Perhaps to reassure Sokov, when the rockets were transported to the other side of the Volga River, Vitkov made a special phone call to Sokov at the front headquarters.
Vitkov said on the phone: "Comrade Brigadier, we have successfully arrived at the headquarters of the front army. However, since the German air force and artillery have blocked the river very hard, for the sake of safety, I plan to wait until dark.
Then transport the rockets across the river."
"That's great, Comrade Colonel." Sokov couldn't help but be overjoyed when he learned that the rockets could be transported from across the river after dark, but he did not get carried away. Instead, he tried his best to control his emotions and said to Vitko
The husband said: "When you cross the river, you must pay attention to safety and minimize the casualties of the troops."
"Don't worry, Comrade Brigadier." Vitkov said confidently: "On the way back to the left bank from Kamishin, I made an agreement with the commander of the Volga Fleet. They will send the best sailors and the best sailors.
Ships, help us transport these rockets to the other side."
Knowing that Vitkov and his companions received help from the Volga Fleet on their way to transport ammunition, Sokov quickly said in an official tone: "Comrade Colonel, please represent the commanders and fighters of our entire brigade and express your gratitude to the sailor commanders and fighters of the fleet.
grateful!"
"Comrade Brigadier, I will do it, don't worry."
As soon as Sokov put down the phone, he called Sidorin over and said to him: "Comrade Chief of Staff, please immediately inform each battalion of the teams to be sent to the enemy's rear. The original departure time has been cancelled. The new departure time will be waiting for me."
announcement of."
Sidorin looked at Sokov in confusion and asked: "Comrade Brigadier, what happened? Why did you suddenly change the departure time of the team?"
"Comrade Chief of Staff," Sokov said with some pride: "Colonel Vitkov just called and said that the rockets have been transported to the headquarters of the front army and they will be shipped by ship just after dark."
When Sidorin heard that the rockets had reached the other side, his eyes suddenly lit up, and he immediately guessed the reason why Sokov wanted to change the team's departure time: "I understand, Comrade Brigadier, if you change the team's departure time,
It’s to wait for the deputy brigade commander to bring the rockets over, so that each team can bring a few rockets.”
"You guessed it right, Comrade Chief of Staff." Seeing that Sidorin guessed his intention, Sokov said with a smile: "I plan to let each team bring a launcher and ten rockets, so that
Once they arrive behind enemy lines, they can attack German headquarters, camps, warehouses and other important targets from a safe distance."
When Sidorin heard what Sokov said, he immediately imagined the image of Golya and the others using rockets to destroy the German regiment headquarters. Then he nodded and said: "Comrade Brigade Commander, if every small soldier who goes deep behind enemy lines
If all the detachments use rockets to attack important targets in the rear of the German army, the enemy may fall into complete chaos."
"The enemy is in chaos, which is really what we want to see." Sokov said with a smile on his face: "In this way, they will have no extra strength to continue to attack Mamayev Heights or other important military facilities.
We have launched an attack. We can use this precious time to strengthen our fortifications and rest our troops, waiting for the next round of counterattack."
Hearing Sokov mention a counterattack, Sidorin couldn't help but raise his eyebrows, and then asked tentatively: "Comrade Brigade Commander, have you heard any news that our army is going to launch a counterattack against the enemy?"
"I stay with you in this headquarters every day, and a lot of the news I heard was conveyed to me by you." Sokov looked at Sidorin and said jokingly: "Things you don't even know.
, how could I possibly know!”
Sidorin smiled sheepishly, and then asked Sokov: "Comrade Brigade Commander, when do you think your superiors will launch another counterattack against the German troops in the Stalingrad area?"
“In early September, the three armies commanded by Zhukov launched a counterattack from the north of Stalingrad. However, due to insufficient preparation, the offensive forces lacked sufficient artillery support and did not have air superiority, so our counterattack ended in failure.
Sokov did not directly answer Sidorin's question, but talked about the two failed counterattacks at the beginning of the month: "A few days later, General Rokossovsky's Stalingrad Front again attacked from the northwest.
Launched an attack, Commander Chuikov also assembled several divisions of troops and cooperated with the opponent inside and outside. Unfortunately, this counterattack ended in failure."
Hearing this, Sidorin felt that he seemed to understand something, and asked cautiously: "Comrade Brigadier, if I guess correctly, you mean that if our army launches a counterattack in a hurry, it will be damaged due to lack of preparation.
, leading to the failure of the counterattack. If you want to achieve a successful counterattack, you must spend a long time accumulating strength and hoarding supplies needed for combat?"
After Sokov waited for Sidorin to finish speaking, he gave him a thumbs up: "Comrade Chief of Staff, your analysis is very correct. If our army's counterattack is to be successful, it will take one or two months.
Assemble troops and stockpile supplies needed for combat, and then attack the enemy after being fully prepared, so that you are more certain of winning."
"Then how long do you think we need to wait before the big counterattack that determines the final outcome can come?" Sidorin asked in an uncertain tone: "One month, two months, or longer?
?”
Sokov remembered that the Soviet army launched a counterattack against the German army from different places on November 18th and 19th, which was still almost two months away. So he pretended to be thinking hard and pretended.
After thinking for a long time, he finally said to Sidorin: "I think that according to the speed of our army's build-up and the transportation of supplies, we may be able to launch a powerful counterattack against the German army in late November."
"Ah, we have to wait until late November?" Hearing Sokov said this, Sidorin showed a disappointed expression on his face: "I really didn't expect that we would have to wait for such a long time."
"There is no way, Comrade Chief of Staff, the preparations for a large corps battle are quite complicated, and the time it takes will not be too short. I said waiting until late November is already very fast. If it doesn't go well, maybe
It will be delayed until early December..."
"Early December?!" Sidorin heard this and couldn't help but interrupt and asked: "Comrade Brigadier, tell me, will the major counterattack in the Stalingrad area be at the same time as the major counterattack under Moscow last year?"
"I don't know about this either." Sokov was unwilling to continue discussing this issue with Sidorin. He raised his hand and looked at his watch and urged: "Chief of Staff, call each team quickly.
This prevents them from setting off behind enemy lines before the rockets arrive."
