What he saw and heard in the police station reminded Sokov that although the German army had not yet reached Stalingrad, the agents they sent were trying to sneak into the city. To them, this did not matter.
It's not a difficult thing. Nowadays, small troops retreating from the front lines are entering the city one after another. It wouldn't be surprising at all if there are a few disguised Germans among them.
As soon as he returned to the brigade headquarters, Sokov sent Asiya back to the health team, and then convened a meeting with all company commanders. At the meeting, Sokov briefly introduced the truth about his detention by the police, and then told
The commanders who cared about him expressed their gratitude, and finally he said: "Comrade commanders, I have called you here today because there are important tasks to be assigned."
Seeing that the commanders all took out pens and papers and were ready to record, Sokov continued: "Comrades, the fortifications on Mamayev Post have been basically completed. Starting today, troops will be dispatched one after another.
Entering the tunnel..."
"Comrade Brigadier," when she learned that the troops were about to enter the tunnel, Vanya couldn't help but interjected: "I think it's better to wait until the German army approaches Mamaev Hill before letting our soldiers enter the tunnel. The air in the tunnel
It's turbid, and the lighting is seriously insufficient. People will have a strong sense of depression when they stay in it. I'm worried that the soldiers will have a mental breakdown if they stay in there for a long time."
What Vanya said was also what many commanders present wanted to say. At this moment, they heard that some people had expressed their thoughts, and they all agreed: "Yes, we should wait until the Germans approach Mamayev Heights
When the time comes, let’s let the soldiers enter the tunnel again.”
"No." After Sokov waited for the tent to become quiet again, he said decisively: "In order to allow the soldiers to adapt to life in the tunnels as soon as possible, starting from today, the soldiers from each unit will be divided into two groups, and they will take turns to station in the tunnels 24 hours a day.
Once. After a week, everyone must live in the tunnel forever."
"Comrade Brigadier," Vanya said anxiously, "I don't understand why you insist on letting our soldiers live in the tunnels. You know, even if we are shelled by the Germans, we are behind Mamayev Hill.
The campsite will not suffer too much damage!"
"The shelling may not cause much damage to the campsite behind the hill." Sokov looked at Vanya and said seriously: "But have you ever thought about it, once the German army sends out bombers, it will attack Mamayev
If we carry out bombing on the hillock, our camp behind the hill will become the focus of the bombing. You can imagine what kind of casualties the troops will suffer by then, even if I don't tell you."
Sokov did not want to get entangled with his commanders on this issue. He said in a commanding tone: "I now announce that the 1st and 2nd Battalions will be stationed in the south slope tunnel, and the 3rd Battalion will be stationed in the north slope tunnel. The 4th Battalion will be stationed in the tunnel on the north slope.
As the reserve team of the entire brigade, we will continue to stay at the current campsite."
"Also, recently some Germans disguised themselves and mingled with our troops retreating to Stalingrad. In order to prevent the fortifications of Mamayev Heights from being detected by the Germans, we must strengthen the security of the highlands and surrounding areas. Do you understand?
"
After everyone responded with mixed responses, Andre asked tentatively: "Comrade Brigade Commander, I would like to ask how large an area we should complete the security work?"
"Checkpoints must be set up immediately on all roads leading to Mamayev Heights to conduct strict checks on pedestrians and vehicles." Sokov said solemnly: "The defenses on the north and south slopes must be strictly inspected.
Send special personnel to station and establish machine gun fire points to prevent possible sneak attacks by the German army... Patrol teams must be dispatched to conduct 24-hour uninterrupted patrols in areas where barbed wire fences are erected and minefields. If suspicious characters are found approaching, if the warning is ineffective,
You can kill him directly."
Sokov's last words stunned everyone. After a long time, a company commander asked tentatively: "Comrade Brigade Commander, is this appropriate?"
"There's nothing inappropriate." Sokov waved his hand at the company commander and said plausibly: "Now is a war, and anyone who approaches military buildings without authorization may be saboteurs. After the warning is ineffective, just start.
Gun, if my superiors are to blame, I will bear all the responsibilities."
After the commanders left one after another, Belkin asked Sokov curiously: "Comrade Brigadier, before getting permission from our superiors, we set up checkpoints and guarded the Mamayev Hills and surrounding areas without authorization.
Is it appropriate?"
"Comrade Political Commissar, the war is imminent. In order to reduce the casualties of the troops in the battle, some things must be prepared for a rainy day." Sokov replied: "Although the German army only needs to launch an attack on Mamayev Hill to clear out our fortifications.
At what position. But I hope that before the battle begins, the Germans will not be allowed to sneak into our defense zone."
Hearing what Sokov said, Belkin couldn't help but laugh, "Comrade Brigade Commander, you are too worried. I admit that there are Germans who disguised themselves as our people and sneaked into Stalingrad. But the number must be limited, you
How do you know they will definitely come to Mamayev Kurgan?"
"As long as there are valuable military targets, they are the focus of their reconnaissance." Sokov reminded Belkin: "Comrade Political Commissar, I think you should know that the location of Mamayev Heights is very important. You can overlook it from the high ground.
If you control the entire Stalingrad and the Volga River, you can control a large area, including the Volga River transportation line, which is the lifeblood of Stalingrad. According to my judgment, the German army will definitely make this a key offensive target."
Regarding Sokov's statement, Belkin was still reluctant to say: "Maybe the fortifications we built on Mamayev Hill were not noticed by the enemy at all..."
"Comrade Political Commissar," Sokov interrupted Belkin before he could finish his words: "Let me tell you an inside story. When the German army approached Moscow last year, they air raided the city. There were two heavy bombs.
It fell into the Kremlin. One bomb fell into the weapons hall and exploded, causing the death of an anti-aircraft gun squad on the roof. The other bomb fell into the George Hall of the Kremlin, but fortunately, the bomb got stuck in the ceiling.
There was no explosion.
The weapons hall is opposite Stalin's residence and office. The Luftwaffe's ability to drop bombs so accurately must have been guided by ground personnel. Think about it, in a place as heavily guarded as the Kremlin, the Germans were able to lurk nearby.
Aircrafts on bombing missions provide guidance, not to mention our little Mamayev Kurgan."
The fact that the Kremlin was bombed by enemy planes was kept strictly confidential. Only a very limited number of people knew about it, and Sokov also learned about it through historical materials of later generations. When Belkin heard the news, his eyes widened in surprise: "Brigadier Commander
Comrade, is everything you say true? Has the Kremlin really been bombed by enemy planes?"
"Yes, Comrade Political Commissar." Sokov nodded and gave Belkin a positive answer: "Everything I said is true."
Belkin was silent for a moment, and suddenly thought of a topic that interested him: "Comrade Brigade Commander, do you know why the bomb that fell in George Hall did not explode?"
"When the engineers dismantled the bomb, they found that there was no detonator inside, and a note was stuffed inside, which said in German and Russian: 'We are German anti-***ists.'"
After listening to Sokov's words, Belkin showed a knowing smile on his face: "It seems that there are comrades who stand on the same front as us in the *** camp."
While the two were talking, the phone on the table suddenly rang. Belkin grabbed the phone, put it to his ear and said, "I am Belkin, where are you?" After listening for a moment, a look on his face appeared on his face.
Suddenly he showed a surprised expression. After listening quietly for a while, he said into the phone, "Don't worry, we will send medical staff to the crash site immediately."
After Belgin put down the phone, Sokov asked curiously: "Comrade Political Commissar, what happened? Whose plane crashed?"
"That's it, Comrade Brigadier." Belgin looked up at Sokov and said, "I just received a call from the City Defense Committee, saying that the plane on which General Chuikov, commander of the 64th Group Army, was flying to Stalingrad,
It was intercepted by German fighter jets and unfortunately was shot down. According to the observation post's report, the crash site was three or four kilometers west of Mamayev Heights. Our superiors ordered us to send people to search for the crashed aircraft."
When he learned that Chuikov's plane was shot down by a German fighter jet, Sokov's heart couldn't help but tremble. He secretly thought that if this general who shone brightly in the battle to defend Stalingrad died in a plane crash, what would happen next?
The history that comes down may have unexpected deviations.
Thinking of this, Sokov immediately ordered Belkin: "Comrade political commissar, call the health team immediately and ask Pavlov to mobilize capable personnel to form a medical team and follow us to the crash site for search and rescue."
While Belgin was on the phone, Sokov rushed outside the tent, called Seryosha, and ordered him to assemble a guard platoon and follow him to carry out the mission.
The guard platoon was quickly assembled, and the medical team from the health team also arrived. Everyone whispered to each other: "What happened? Why did we send the medical team?"
Sokov heard the commotion outside the tent and knew that the troops had been assembled. He said to Belkin: "Comrade Political Commissar, I will personally lead people to search and rescue, and I will leave the affairs here to you." After that, he walked quickly.
Walked out of the tent.
The soldiers of the guard platoon and the medical staff who were discussing outside the tent immediately fell silent when they saw Sokov coming out of the tent. Sokov stood in front of the queue and said to everyone: "Comrades, there is a general riding in.
The plane was shot down by an enemy fighter jet near Mamayev Heights. Our current mission is to carry out a search and rescue mission. Time is running out, so everyone gets on the bus immediately and is ready to go."
