"Colonel Weisbach," Sokov said after listening to the other party's report, he felt that although their current equipment could not be compared with his own main force, it was not too bad compared with other friendly forces. As long as
If they are not allowed to perform important combat missions, then there is no need to replenish their weapons. Therefore, he said to Weisbach: "Although the equipment of your brigade is temporarily worse than other units within the group army, it is on par with other group armies.
Compared with other troops, you are pretty good. As far as I know, some of the new recruits in the troops don't even have weapons."
"You are right, Comrade Commander." Weisbach said respectfully: "Actually, we only got these weapons before we set off. There are many new soldiers in the brigade who don't even know how to use these weapons.
.”
"What, Comrade Colonel, what did you say?" After hearing Weisbach's words, Runev couldn't help but interrupt and asked: "You said that your superiors only issued weapons to you before you set off. What the hell is that?
what's going on?"
Weisbach quickly turned to Luniev and explained to him: "Comrade Military Commissar, two-thirds of the commanders and fighters in our brigade were captured by the German army. Because of their disgraceful history, they were compiled
After becoming a reserve force, no weapons were issued at all."
"In other words, you were reorganized from the reserve into the 73rd Infantry Brigade and were sent to us before your superiors distributed the weapons to your commanders and combatants?"
"Yes, that's true."
Runev then asked: "Colonel Weisbach, you have been appointed deputy commander of the infantry brigade. Could it be said that you have been captured by the enemy before?"
"No, no, Comrade Military Commissar, I have never been captured by the enemy." Upon hearing Lunev's question, Weisbach quickly defended himself and said: "I was originally a regiment commander of the reserve army, and I led the temporary commander some time ago.
The newly formed troops went to the headquarters of the Grassland Front Army and handed over new soldiers to them.
When I was going through the formalities, I unexpectedly met General Konev. After chatting with me for a few words, he said that after such a long battle in the army, there was a huge gap in the middle-level commanders, so he kept me as the reserve commander.
commander."
"So that's it." Sokov looked at the queue not far away and asked Weisbach curiously: "Colonel Weisbach, your subordinates are standing in line very neatly."
Hearing Sokov's compliment, Weisbach grinned and then replied: "Comrade Commander, the situation is like this. Although our superiors have not equipped us with weapons, we can't be idle. So I work every day
Together with Chief of Staff Lieutenant Colonel Askel, we conducted formation training for the troops. Although the training only lasted for two or three days, the effect was still very obvious, and the soldiers were able to complete the formation in the shortest time."
"Colonel Weisbach, you did a good job." Without weapons, it was easy for the new recruits to train in formation every day. At least during the formation process, Sokov really didn't expect that one-third of the troops would
They are new recruits, and they look like a well-trained unit. His affection for Weisbach has increased a bit: "I believe that when you go to the battlefield in the future, you can achieve even greater feats."
As he was talking, he suddenly heard footsteps behind him. Sokov turned around and saw that it was Samoylov running over with Guchakov.
Guchakov came to stand in front of Sokov, raised his hand in salute, and reported in accordance with the order: "Comrade Commander, Major Guchakov, commander of the 73rd Infantry Brigade, reports to you that I have been ordered to come to receive the troops. Please
Your instructions!"
"Major Guchakov, you are here at the right time, let me introduce you." Sokov pointed at Weisbach and said to Guchakov: "This is your deputy brigade commander, Colonel Weisbach, next to him.
This is the brigade chief of staff, Lieutenant Colonel Askel. Comrades, two commanders, come and get to know each other, this is your brigade commander, Major Guchakov."
Hearing that the major in front of them was the commander of the infantry brigade, Weisbach and Askel couldn't help showing expressions of surprise on their faces, because the other party's military rank was lower than theirs, leaving a colonel and a lieutenant colonel
, to follow the command of a major, is this incredible?
Although they were full of doubts, since Sokov had already explained that the major in front of him was the commander of the infantry brigade, the two of them took the initiative to raise their hands to salute Guchakov and reported their names, ranks and positions.
After Guchakov got to know his men, he turned to face Sokov and asked: "Comrade Commander, I have officially accepted the 73rd Infantry Brigade. What is the next combat mission of our brigade?"
Before Weisbach and Askel came to the 27th Army, they had heard about Sokov's deeds, and they knew very well that as long as this unit participated in the battle, it would definitely be inseparable from its achievements. At this moment, Gucha heard that
Kokov asked Sokov about the combat mission, which immediately aroused the curiosity of the two men. They were eager to know what kind of combat mission Sokov gave the infantry brigade.
Sokov was very satisfied with Guchakov's positive attitude. However, the opponent had just withdrawn from the front line not long ago, and he was still somewhat injured. How could he be sent to the battlefield again so quickly, so he raised his hand and patted him.
He looked over his shoulder and said kindly: "Don't be anxious, Major Guchakov. I plan not to arrange combat missions for you in the next week, but to let you and the commanders and fighters of the infantry brigade get familiar with each other, and then go to the battlefield.
, you can better command your troops and fight the enemy."
Hearing that the troops would not have any combat missions in the next week, Weisbach couldn't help but feel a little anxious. He came to the 27th Group Army just to make contributions. Now that the attack on Kharkov is imminent, his troops have to let go.
Taking a break, isn't this equivalent to giving away the opportunity to make meritorious deeds to others?
"Comrade Commander," the impatient Weisbach stepped forward and said to Sokov: "Although our infantry brigade has a lot of new recruits, veterans account for two-thirds. I think we are completely
You can accept the combat mission immediately. Comrade Commander, please think about it carefully."
"I don't need to think about it, Colonel Weisbach." Sokov replied simply: "Although two-thirds of the commanders and combatants in the infantry brigade are veterans with combat experience, due to the special nature of this unit,
You cannot go into battle immediately. I will not assign combat missions to you until Major Guchakov is completely familiar with the troops."
After Sokov finished speaking, he left with Lunev and Seryosha without giving Weisbach a chance to continue asking questions.
Looking at Sokov's leaving back, Weisbach asked Guchakov with some worry: "Comrade Brigadier, do you think the commander has any prejudice against our unit?"
"Why do you say that?"
"Isn't it obvious," Weisbach said with a wry smile: "Two-thirds of the commanders and fighters in the brigade had once been prisoners of the Germans. After they were rescued, they often had to endure the looks of their former comrades, feeling that they were prisoners of war.
They are all a bunch of cowards, otherwise how could they be prisoners of the Germans and survive shamelessly."
"Colonel Weisbach," Guchakov said with a livid face after waiting for Weisbach to finish: "The situation you mentioned may exist in other troops, but it is impossible within the 27th Army.
Whether the commander uses a commander depends on his ability, not other factors. Today, among the commanders and fighters of the 27th Group Army, there are as many as 20,000 to 30,000 who have been prisoners, and there is no such thing.
Who is being discriminated against.”
When he learned that 20,000 to 30,000 commanders and fighters of the 27th Group Army had been prisoners of the Germans, Weisbach broke out in a cold sweat: "Comrade Brigadier, this kind of thing is not a joke. If there are really two or three
A soldier with ten thousand commanders was once a prisoner of the Germans. Did his superiors just ignore him?"
"How can you be joking, Comrade Colonel?" Guchakov said with some displeasure: "Comrade Commander got the permission from his superiors to integrate the two to thirty thousand commanders and fighters rescued from the prisoner of war camps into the army. Also,
I have also been captured by the Germans twice, but Comrade Commander still entrusts me with important tasks, so what you are worried about does not exist at all."
"Okay, Comrade Colonel, stop talking about such boring things." Guchakov said to Weisbach: "Please take me to get to know the soldiers."
Weisbach was still so immersed in the fact that Guchakov had been a prisoner of the German army twice that he did not hear what Guchakov said. It was not until Chief of Staff Askel gave him a push that he came out of his thoughts.
He woke up with a start and asked quickly: "What's the matter?"
Askel pouted towards the back of Guchakov who was walking towards the troops, and said: "Comrade Brigade Commander just said that he wants you to introduce him to the soldiers."
…………
After Sokov and Lunev returned to the headquarters, Samyko immediately came up to them and asked: "Comrade Commander, Comrade Military Commissar, you are back! Have you seen that unit?"
"I see!" Sokov nodded and said briefly: "The brigade has a total strength of 2,300 people, and its equipment is similar to that of friendly forces. Two-thirds of its commanders and combatants are veterans with rich combat experience. Waiting for Guchako
Once you get to know the commanders and fighters at all levels and can control the entire unit, you can assign tasks to them."
Sokov's words surprised Samyko: "Why, Comrade Commander, I hear what you mean, don't you plan to assign them combat missions in the near future?"
"Yes, Comrade Chief of Staff." Seeing Samyko's confused expression, Sokov quickly explained to him: "There is something I haven't had time to tell you yet. Before this unit set out to come to us,
They were hastily armed."
"Ah, Comrade Commander, are you saying that if General Konev had not assigned this unit to us, the commanders and fighters of this brigade might still not have weapons?"
"Yes, it is indeed the case." Sokov said in a positive tone: "Didn't I say that two-thirds of the commanders and fighters in this unit are veterans? The reason why these veterans are not reused is completely
It's because they were all captured by the Germans."
"Oh my God." Although Sameko knew that many of the commanders and fighters in this new unit had been prisoners of the Germans, he did not expect that the proportion was so large. He said in surprise: "No wonder General Konev
If you don’t equip them with weapons, you subconsciously don’t trust them.”
"Comrade Chief of Staff," Seeing that Samyko discovered the key to the problem, Sokov continued: "You now understand why I did not plan to assign combat missions to them within a week, and also urged Major Guchakov to
Take the time to familiarize yourself with the army, right?"
"Well, Comrade Commander, I understand what you mean." When Samek said this, he suddenly sighed and said in a regretful tone: "This will disrupt our original plan."
"Plan, what plan?" Sokov asked in surprise: "Comrade Chief of Staff, can you tell me what plan of yours my arrangement disrupted?"
"Comrade Commander, this is it." Since Sokov asked, Samyko explained to him: "Before you and Comrade Military Commissar left, didn't you order me to call Colonel Koida, the commander of the 188th Division?
, order him to dispatch troops to rescue the imprisoned Italian prisoners?"
"Yes, I did give you such an order before I left." Sokov asked back: "By the way, how did Colonel Koida reply? When can his troops set off?"
"I'm afraid he won't be able to carry out our order in a short period of time." After Samyko finished speaking, before Sokov could ask again, he took the initiative and said: "Seeing that his troops are about to capture the town of Kazachya Compass"
, but enemy reinforcements have arrived and are counterattacking against them."
"What, the enemy launched a counterattack in Kazachya Compass Town?" Sokov became anxious when he heard this: "What is the current situation? Can they withstand the enemy?" He thought to himself that he had assured Zhukov that the troops would
It is only a matter of time before the Compass Town of Kazachia is captured. If the 188th Division in the town is driven out by the enemy's counterattack force, the situation will not be good.
"It should be possible." Samyko replied: "After I learned about the situation of the 188th Division, I called General Fomenko and ordered his 84th Division to immediately go into battle and be sure to assist the 188th Division in eliminating reinforcements.
The enemy firmly defends the town of Kazachia Compass."
"Comrade Chief of Staff, you have made a good arrangement." According to the original order, Fomenko's troops should have entered Kazachya Compass Town at this time, but because Fomenko kept pushing that after the troops captured October Town, some
Tired and in need of rest, so far, the main force of the division has stopped in October Town and has not moved: "You also need to tell General Fomenko that if the fighter plane is delayed due to his delay, the 188th Division will be defeated by the enemy.
If he is driven out of the town, then his position as division commander will be over."
"Understood." Samyko waited for Sokov to finish speaking and immediately said loudly: "I will immediately convey your intention to General Fomenko and order his troops to quickly advance to Kazachya Compass Town.
Assist the 188th Division in destroying the enemies in the town."
The next topic returned to the rescue of Italian prisoners of war. Sameko asked tentatively: "Comrade Commander, since there are not many German troops holding on to the prisoner of war camp, do you think you can send the Guchakov Brigade to carry out this task?"
Woolen cloth?"
"No, absolutely not." Sokov rejected Samyko's proposal without hesitation: "I just announced to Guchakov and his deputies that within the next week, no money will be given to them.
They assigned combat missions. If it doesn't take long for me to go back on my word, it will damage my prestige in the army."
Seeing that Sokov firmly disagreed with the use of Guchakov's brigade, Samyko could only do the next best thing: "Then which troop do you think should be sent to complete this mission?"
