"Before I came to the city, I discussed the early fighting situation of the 41st Guards Division with the commander." Seeing Sokov's confused look, Khrushchev explained to him: "After discussion, we agreed
We believe that various signs indicate that Colonel Ivanov is not a suitable division commander. If he is allowed to lead his troops to defend Mamayev Heights, I am afraid that the chance of losing it will be greatly increased."
"Therefore, we have formulated two plans." Khrushchev raised his right hand and extended a finger: "The first plan is for you to serve as the deputy division commander and assist Ivanov in his work."
After listening to Khrushchev's explanation of the first option, Sokov asked noncommittally: "What about the second option?"
"The second option," Khrushchev pointed at Sokov with his hand, said: "You will serve as the commander of the 41st Guards Division, and Ivanov will serve as the deputy division commander."
Although he was appointed as the division commander, Sokov was still unsure. He was deeply afraid that the commander of the division would disobey his command, so he asked: "What about the division's political commissar and chief of staff?"
"The division political commissar is the battalion-level political commissar Anisimov," Khrushchev introduced to Sokov: "He is a very experienced political worker, and I believe he will be able to cooperate with your work well.
"
"As for the choice of chief of staff," Khrushchev glanced at Sidorin standing next to him and said, "Let Lieutenant Colonel Sidorin take up this position."
Seeing that both he and Sidorin had received new positions, but Brigade Political Commissar Belgin was not mentioned, Sokov continued to ask: "Comrade Military Commissar, I don't know how you plan to place Political Commissar Belgin."
Khrushchev knew that Belkin was Sokov's old partner, so he did not make a hasty decision. Instead, after staring at Belkin for a while, he said: "I think, let Comrade Belkin stay."
He serves as the deputy political commissar of the division and concurrently serves as the director of the division's political department."
Unexpectedly, as soon as Khrushchev finished speaking, Belkin took a step forward, straightened his back and said: "Comrade Military Commissar, before I became Colonel Sokov's deputy, I also served as a military officer. If you
If you trust me, can you please give me command of the downsizing regiment?"
When Khrushchev just mentioned the reduction of the infantry brigade into a regiment, Sokov was still secretly considering the candidate for the regiment commander. After reviewing the situations of several battalion commanders, he selected the battalion commander Wan
Niya, 2nd Battalion Commander Vasily, and Marine Battalion Commander Shamrih. However, after carefully comparing the three of them, I felt that although they each had their own strengths, they still lacked in ability to command a regiment.
At this moment, when he heard that Belkin had volunteered, he couldn't help but his eyes lit up. Belkin had been partnering with him for almost a year. Not only did they cooperate well with each other, but they were also familiar with his common tactics. If he was really in charge.
The leader of the downsizing group is really the most suitable candidate.
Thinking of this, he quickly said to Khrushchev: "Comrade Military Commissar, I think it is appropriate for Comrade Belkin to serve as the head of the regiment."
After Khrushchev looked Belkin up and down, he said with some embarrassment: "Colonel Sokov, but he is a political worker, how can he serve as a military officer?"
"Comrade Military Commissar," Sokov could tell from Khrushchev's tone that he was not willing to let Belkin serve as regimental leader, so he laughed and said, "Although Belkin is now a political worker,
, but he has also served as a military officer before. With such a politically strong comrade commanding our troops, do you have anything to worry about?"
Sokov's words made Khrushchev beam with joy: "Colonel Sokov, you are right. If a political worker who is strong in politics and has served as a military officer can command a unit with great military achievements, we can
Is there anything to worry about? Well, let him be the leader of the downsizing group."
Seeing that Khrushchev agreed to his proposal, Sokov couldn't help but secretly breathed a sigh of relief. He turned to Belkin and said: "Commander Belkin, you should seize the time to organize the downsizing of the army and the commands at all levels.
Submit the list of members."
"Brigade Commander... No, Comrade Division Commander." Belkin said confidently: "I plan to reduce the entire brigade to four battalions. The third battalion will not change the structure of the Marine Corps battalion and the commanders at all levels; the first battalion and the second battalion will remain unchanged.
The battalion was merged into the new 1st Battalion, with Captain Vasily as the battalion commander; the 4th Battalion and the 192nd Battalion were merged into the new 2nd Battalion, with Captain Briski as the battalion commander, and Captain Golia as the deputy battalion commander."
Hearing this, Sokov couldn't help but interjected and asked: "Commander Belkin, where is Captain Vanya? You merged the first and second battalions into a new battalion. Why didn't you arrange his duties?" Soko
The reason why my husband asked this was because he was worried that Belgin would make a mistake while he was busy and forget about Vanya.
"Comrade Division Commander, with Captain Vanya's ability, it is a bit unworthy to let him serve as battalion commander." Belkin said unhurriedly: "I plan to make him the chief of staff of my regiment. And the former director of the brigade's political department, De
Comrade Mitri serves as political commissar of the regiment."
Sokov had no objection to Belkin's arrangement. He nodded and said approvingly: "Your arrangement is very reasonable. I have no objection." After saying this, he turned around and asked Khrushchev, "
Comrade Military Commissar, I still have the remnants of a battalion, which are currently staying in the Red October Factory. Do you think we can ask them to withdraw?"
Khrushchev replied readily: "Since there are not only the 39th Guards Division but also Gurdiev's 308th Infantry Division stationed in the Red October Factory, your battalion can't do anything there.
If it doesn’t work, just withdraw them.”
Seeing that Khrushchev agreed so simply, Sokov couldn't help but be overjoyed and quickly expressed his gratitude to him: "Thank you, thank you, Comrade Military Commissar. This way my troops can concentrate on fighting in one area without worrying about being too scattered.
And weaken the combat effectiveness of the troops."
While he was talking, the phone on the table rang. Sokov was closest to the phone and grabbed the receiver: "I'm Sokov, where are you?"
Shamrih's voice soon came from the receiver: "Comrade Brigade Commander, the Army Group Headquarters has sent people to deliver ammunition to us. There are about seven or eight trucks. I want to ask, how to deal with it?"
"Comrade Captain, needless to say, send someone to receive it immediately." Sokov was even more happy when he learned that Chuikov had indeed sent someone to deliver ammunition to him. He said excitedly into the microphone: "Yes.
With these ammunition, when the enemy attacks again, you won't have to fight with them with bayonets."
Seeing Sokov put down the microphone, Khrushchev said with a smile: "With the ammunition sent by Chuikov, when facing the enemy's attack, you will no longer have to fight with them with bayonets. It's getting late.
, you continue to discuss the organization of the troops and the selection of commanders, I have to leave."
"You're leaving?!" Seeing that Khrushchev was leaving, Sokov couldn't help but curiously asked: "Comrade Military Commissar, are you planning to go back to the east bank of the Volga River?"
"I just entered the city, why did I go back so soon?" Khrushchev shook his head and said: "I want to go to Chuikov's headquarters to learn from him about the deployment of the German troops in the counterattack area, so as to formulate a reasonable plan.
counterattack plan."
When Sokov heard what Khrushchev said, he suddenly felt more at ease. He was also worried that this counterattack would be carried out blindly without understanding the enemy's situation. Since Khrushchev said he wanted to understand the situation,
and formulating a combat plan, then the probability of success of this counterattack can be improved.
As soon as Khrushchev was sent away, Bely, who had disappeared for a long time, appeared out of nowhere. As soon as he saw Sokov, he said with a smile: "Misha, I heard that your superiors appointed you as a close officer.
Congratulations, congratulations! You are now the commander of the Guard Division!"
Seeing Bely appear, Sokov was stunned for a moment, then slapped his forehead with his hand and said repeatedly: "No, how could I forget such an important thing!"
"What's going on?" Sokov's behavior made Bely confused.
"That's right, Colonel Bely." Sokov quickly explained to Bely: "The infantry brigade will be reduced to a regiment, with Belkin as the regiment commander, Dmitry, director of the brigade's political department, as the political commissar, and the first battalion commander.
Captain Vanya served as the chief of staff. Except for the third battalion and the Marine Corps Battalion, which maintained their original structure, the first and second battalions were merged, and the fourth and 192nd battalions were merged. However, I actually forgot how to arrange your troops."
"Misha." Bely waited for Sokov to finish and asked directly: "Will the four battalions deployed in the Red October Factory be withdrawn?"
"Yes, I plan to pull them back overnight." Sokov considered that there were still ten tanks left near the assembly workshop for fixed turret use, so he asked Bely: "Colonel Bely, what are those ten tanks?
How did you consider whether to stay at the Red October Factory or withdraw to Mamayev Kurgan?"
Bely said without hesitation: "I think it's better to stay at the Red October Factory!" Perhaps because he was afraid that Sokov would be too worried, he also added, "There is no suitable parking place here on Mamayev Ridge."
"Okay, just leave all the tanks at the Red October Factory." Sokov felt that what Bely said was reasonable, so he nodded and said, "The terrain there is conducive to the deployment of mechanized troops."
"That's what I thought too." Bely said to himself: "I just went to the Red October Factory and received thirty new tanks from the factory director Peter. I will wait until the day of the counterattack.
, we will launch a direct assault on the enemy from the direction of the Red October Factory."
"Comrade Division Commander," Sidorin, who was sitting next to him, interrupted after the two of them finished speaking: "If there is not enough artillery cover, we can only rely on infantry when attacking. I'm worried that it will be difficult to break through the enemy's attack."
Defensive position."
Sokov had observed the German positions in the distance many times. Although there were only a few trenches and a limited number of firepower points, and there were no barbed wire fences or minefields in front of the positions, it seemed impossible to simply rely on infantry to break through the enemy's defenses.
An easy thing. Without the support of artillery and tank troops, even if the infantry barely captures the enemy's position, as long as the opponent's equipment troops deployed behind the position counterattack, the hard-fought victory can be wiped out.
"I think that when we launch an attack on the enemy's position, Colonel Bely's tank troops will definitely provide us with necessary support." When Sokov said this, he looked at Bely intentionally and asked: "You think so?
Well, Comrade Colonel?"
"Although the infantry brigade is about to be downsized, the superiors have not yet said anything about the ownership of the tank battalion." Bely said hesitantly: "I think after the counterattack begins, the tank battalion should still mainly cooperate with you in combat."
"The counterattack will begin in two days!" Sidorin said to Sokov: "I think we should study what kind of troops we should use to attack the enemy in front."
"Comrade Chief of Staff," Bely asked, looking at Sidorin: "The Romanian army is defending the front. I wonder how you plan to break through their position?"
"According to the current situation, after the counterattack begins, the troops attacking from the direction of the Red October Factory will not be less than two divisions." Sidorin pointed to the map on the table and analyzed the situation to everyone: "And
We also have an infantry division of nearly 10,000 people in our attack area. This is what I considered, with the 122nd and 124th Guards Regiments as the first echelon, and after the artillery preparations on the east bank are completed, we will launch an attack on the enemy. And the 125th Guards Regiment will be the first echelon.
The regiment and the reduced regiment serve as the second echelon. After the local defense line is broken through, they immediately enter the battlefield to expand the breakthrough point..."
"Comrade Chief of Staff," Sokov couldn't help but frowned when he heard this: "By doing this, aren't you putting all our strength into counterattack? Have you ever considered who will defend the horse?
Mayevgan?”
Faced with Sokov's doubts, Sidorin quickly explained: "Comrade Division Commander, I think about it this way. Since there is no strong artillery and air support, the results we can achieve in this counterattack are very limited.
. Therefore, my plan is to break through the enemy's defense line and put the second echelon into the battlefield, while the first echelon will withdraw and be responsible for the defense of Mamaev Hill. What do you think?"
"I don't think so!" Regarding Sidorin's suggestion, Bely sneered and said: "Comrade Chief of Staff, have you ever considered that chaos may occur when the two echelons hand over defense on the battlefield.
Once the German army launches a counterattack at this time, our troops may collapse in an instant. If the enemy pursues us and takes the opportunity to rush to Mamayev Hill, how should we deal with it?"
"Colonel Bely is right." Seeing that Bely's views coincided with his own, Sokov nodded and said, "We cannot put all our troops into battle, otherwise Mamayev Heights will be in danger.
"
Seeing that his proposal was opposed by both Sokov and Bely, Sidorin couldn't help blushing with shame. He asked with some embarrassment: "Comrade division commander, Colonel Bely, tell me, what are we doing?"
