When Sokov walked into the division headquarters, he saw Chernyshev standing by the table with his back to him, holding a cigarette in one hand, and pointing to the map on the table with the other hand, and loudly shouting to the few people around him.
What did the commander say?
He quickly came behind Chernyshev, raised his hand to his forehead, and said loudly: "Comrade division commander, Major Sokov, commander of the Istria Battalion, has been ordered to come, please give instructions!"
When Chernyshev heard Sokov's voice, he turned around suddenly, looked Sokov up and down, and said dissatisfiedly: "Comrade Major, the order I gave you yesterday was at three o'clock in the afternoon.
Previously, two companies of troops were sent to Sushinich to accept my command, otherwise you will be relieved of your duties. Let me ask you, where are the troops I want?"
"Comrade Division Commander," Sokov saw that Chernyshev seemed angry and hurriedly explained to him: "I personally led the troops to Susinich yesterday, but just halfway through, I got the news of the German attack.
news, so I brought the troops back."
Seeing Sokov's panic, Chernyshov showed a smile on his face: "Major Sokov, what I want to say to you is that you are good! Your whole battalion is good.
!You have successfully crushed the German attack again and caused them a lot of casualties. Well done!"
After secretly breathing a sigh of relief, Sokov asked: "Comrade division commander, I would like to ask, what is the next combat mission of our battalion?"
Chernyshev shook his head at Sokov and said: "Come to the table and I will introduce the situation to you."
Sokov stood at the table, listening to Chernyshev explaining the next combat mission to himself: "To the north of the city, there is a large village called Popkovo. It is located on the high ground overlooking the surrounding areas. Germany
It was from here that the human artillery often fired shells at Susinich.
Originally, according to the battle plan, we should have captured this village and town together with the troops of the 61st Group Army. But unfortunately, the sudden attack launched by the German army pushed the 61st Group Army back for almost thirty kilometers. In order to avoid the flanks of our group army being attacked,
Upon seeing the enemy's attack, the commander had to move the troops preparing to attack Popkovo to the right wing for defense.
According to the order of the Army Group Headquarters, our division will launch a separate attack on Popkovo. The task of your battalion is to clear out the nearby villages occupied by the German troops and relieve the main force of worries during the attack."
After Chernyshev finished speaking, the division chief of staff added: "Comrade Major, the communists took into account the characteristics of the terrain and winter conditions and turned the villages and farms in the front and depth into barbed wire fences.
In the fenced stronghold, they built shelters with circular shooting holes under many houses, and also placed some tanks in positions where they could conduct direct fire and used them as fixed firepower points."
After listening to the introductions of the two men, Sokov stared at the map and thought quickly in his mind: "Although we were only ordered to seize some villages occupied by the German army, there are Germans deployed in these villages.
Tanks, without the cooperation of artillery, the attack we carry out will be to use eggs to hit rocks."
Thinking of this, he raised his head and looked at Chernyshev and said: "Comrade division commander, I would like to ask, can our battalion receive artillery support when attacking?"
When Chernyshev heard Sokov's question, he first turned to look at the chief of staff of the division next to him, and then asked: "Why, Comrade Major, couldn't you have captured the village where the enemy was holding on without the cooperation of the artillery?"
?”
"Comrade Division Commander," Sokov said with a serious expression: "Since our battalion lacks effective anti-tank weapons, if we rashly launch an attack on a village where tanks are deployed, even if we barely capture the village, it will be a tragedy that outweighs the gains and losses."
win."
After listening to Sokov's words, Chernyshev suddenly laughed. He turned to the division chief of staff and said: "Comrade chief of staff, I have said long ago that after receiving the mission, Major Sokov will definitely ask if there is any
There is no cooperation from the artillery. How about that, am I right?"
The division chief of staff grinned, and then said to Sokov: "Don't worry, Major Sokov, we have already considered your concerns. The artillery that will cooperate with your attack this time will have a 76.2 mm cannon.
company, and a 45mm anti-tank gun company. With their cooperation, I think your attack will be much smoother."
"Great, this is really great." After learning that his superiors would equip him with two artillery batteries, Sokov suddenly felt that it would not be difficult to complete the task assigned to him by Chernyshev, and he quickly expressed his opinion.
: "Comrade Division Commander, if we have these two artillery companies, we will definitely be able to eliminate the enemies entrenched in the village in the shortest possible time."
"Comrade Major, you can't take it lightly." Chernyshov felt that Sokov was underestimating the enemy, so he reminded him: "The Germans are very sensitive to losing such a stronghold, because this will affect the
Its fire defense system has opened a gap in its defense line. Therefore, after capturing the village, you must also be alert to counterattacks carried out by the German army."
"I asked Comrade Commander to ask friendly troops to change defenses in advance, so that your battalion can enter the defensive position as soon as possible." Chernyshev raised his hand and looked at his watch and asked: "Where is your troops? Suhini
Strange or unknown highland?”
"Comrade Division Commander, I came to the division headquarters in advance to accept the mission." Sokov replied with a wry smile: "The troops should still be on their way to Sushinich. You also know that it will take some time to change defenses."
"I understand." Chernyshev nodded, called a staff officer, and told him: "Comrade Lieutenant, take Major Sokov to see the two artillery company commanders and let them precede each other.
Get familiar with it.”
The staff officer took Sokov to an office not far away. Two officers were standing in the room chatting. When they saw the staff officer walking in with a major, they immediately stopped talking and stood still and paid attention to each other.
The staff officer pointed at the two officers and said to Sokov: "Comrade Major, these two commanders are the artillery company commanders who are cooperating with you in the battle. Let's talk about it. I'll leave first." As he said that, he raised his hand to Sokov.
Cove saluted, turned and walked out of the office.
Sokov glanced at the collar badges of the two men and found that they were both lieutenants. He straightened his back, put his hands behind his back, and said to the two: "Comrade lieutenants, I am the Istrian battalion."
Major Chang Sokov, from now on, you are under my command!"
