Ten minutes before the attack began, Sokov took Samoilov to the trench outside the factory gate, raised his telescope to look at the workers' new village in the distance. However, because the light was too dark, he could only barely see the outline of the ruins in the workers' new village.
"Col. Sokov," Peter's voice sounded behind Sokov. He was worried that the Guards' counterattack would not go smoothly, so he came to the front line to see. Seeing Sokov holding a telescope and looking around, he couldn't help but ask: "Why has our night attack troops not been moved yet? Has the enemy discovered it?"
"I don't think so." Sokov shook his head and said, "If the enemy noticed it, there would be gunfire in the workers' new village, and the explosions would be heard, but listen carefully, there was nothing except the sound of gunfires coming from afar." Speaking of this, he raised his hand and looked at the time, adding, "Now there are still six minutes before the attack begins, so let's wait patiently."
Hearing that the attack had six minutes to begin, Peter knew that he was too nervous, so he nodded and squatted in the trenches. In order to relieve his tension, he took out a cigarette box from his pocket and put the cigarette in his mouth. Before he could light it, he heard Sokov's low voice: "Comrade Director, if you don't want to lose your life, don't smoke in the trenches. I don't know if there are German snipers nearby. If so, the little spark on the cigarette butt will be enough to expose your location."
It was the first time Peter went to the frontier position. He really didn't know that he could not smoke in the trenches at night. When he heard Sokov say this, he quickly took off the cigarette in his mouth and stuffed it back into the cigarette box. He got up and lay beside Sokov, and said apologetically: "I'm sorry, comrade Colonel, I don't know that the frontier has this regulation."
"It's okay," Sokov waved his hand at him and said generously: "Don't you know now? I don't think I'll make similar mistakes again next time."
"Comrade Director, Comrade Director." As the two were talking, Ballshaq suddenly ran over the trench. He came to Peter and squatted down and said, "Comrade Director, Deputy Director, said that General Cui Kefu called you..."
"Comrade Director," Sokov learned that Cuikov called Peter, guessing that something important might be, and hurriedly urged him, "You go and answer the phone quickly."
Unexpectedly, as soon as he finished speaking, Ballshaq said to him unexpectedly: "And you, comrade Colonel, and the commander asked you to answer the phone."
When Sokov learned that Trekov was looking for him, he quickly put down his telescope, followed Balshak, and walked along the trench towards his command post. However, when he arrived at the battalion command post, Balshak did not slow down and still kept walking forward. "Major Balshak," Sokov thought Balshak was thinking about something, but he was not focused enough to even recognize his command post, so he quickly reminded him: "Where are you want? Your command post is here."
Ballshaq stopped and turned his head to Sokov and said, "Comrade Colonel, General Cuikov's phone call was in the duty room. The deputy factory director there specially called my command post and asked me to inform you to answer the phone."
Ballshaq sent the two to the door of the duty room and turned back to his battalion command post. Sokov stepped into the room and saw the microphone on the table at a glance. However, he did not rush to pick up the phone, but made a call to Peter: "Comrade Director, please answer the phone first!"
"Comrade Director, Comrade Colonel, you are back!" Seeing Peter and Sokov's arrival, Zinchenko quickly picked up the microphone on the table, handed it to Peter, and said, "Comrade Director, General Cui Kev is going to call you."
"Hello, General Choikov, I am Peter." Peter took the microphone and put it in his ear, and asked with a smile: "Do you have any instructions?...What, hand over all the new tanks produced during this period to Colonel Bere's Tank Brigade?...Don't worry, no problem, no problem, we will definitely hand over a lot of tanks produced in the past few days to Colonel Berere's many places... Oh, you are looking for Colonel Sokov!... That's right, he is by my side, and I'll ask him to answer the phone immediately."
Sokov didn't know what would happen to Cuikov find him at this time, but he still said respectfully: "Hello, Comrade Commander, I am Sokov. Do you have any instructions?"
On the other end of the phone, Cui Kefu asked a little displeasedly: "I just heard from the military committee member that your troops had already voluntarily given up on the workers' new village during the day. What's going on?"
When Sokov heard Cui Kov's question, he unconsciously raised his hand and looked at his watch. He found that it had been ten hours since he ordered the troops to withdraw from the workers' new village. Cui Kov only knew about this until then. In order not to make Cui Kov get angry, he took the initiative to introduce the situation on the battlefield at that time and the reasons for doing so.
"Then when are you going to take back the workers' new village?" Cuikov waited for Sokov to finish his words and said bluntly: "I would like to remind you that once the Germans gain a firm foothold in the workers' new village, you will pay a huge price if you want to take back it."
"Don't worry, Comrade Commander, my troops are lurking under the workers' new village. When the time comes, they can immediately drill out of the sewer and catch the enemy off guard." Sokov said confidently: "You are waiting for our good news."
Sokov's answer surprised Cuikov: "What, your troops have been deployed in the sewer below the Workers' New Village? That's great. When the Workers' New Village is recaptured, remember to report to me in time." After that, he hung up the phone without giving Sokov a chance to speak.
This chapter is not finished yet, please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content later! After finishing the call with Cui Kov, Sokov raised his hand and looked at his watch. He found that it was already two minutes past midnight. However, he did not hear gunfire and explosions coming from the workers' new village, and he couldn't help but frown slightly.
Peter and Zinchenko also noticed something strange. They looked at each other and saw surprise in their eyes. Zinchenko asked Sokov tentatively: "Comrade Colonel, why is there no movement in the workers' new village? Is Lieutenant Colonel Papchinko's troops have not entered the designated position yet?"
"It's impossible." Sokov replied, shook his head, "They set out an hour ago, and it's impossible that they haven't reached the designated location yet."
"But there was no movement in the Workers' New Village. Is there something wrong?"
"Don't worry, wait a little longer." Although Sokov was panicked, he still pretended to be calm: "Maybe after waiting for a while, there will be news."
Just as Sokov raised his hand to wipe away the sweat from his forehead, a box of cigarettes was handed to him. Peter nodded at him and said, "Comrade Colonel, don't worry, let's wait a little longer and smoke a cigarette first."
After thanking Peter, Sokov pulled out a cigarette from the cigarette box and put it in his mouth. Zinchenko quickly lit a match and lit the cigarette for him and Peter. Perhaps in order to ease the tension in the room, Peter asked Sokov with a smile: "Comrade Colonel, I heard that our soldiers can seize a lot of German cigarettes when cleaning the battlefield. Next time they seize German cigarettes, can they give me a few boxes?"
"No problem." Sokov knew that when the soldiers were cleaning the battlefield, no one would ask for German cigarettes except for some soldiers with a very high smoking appetite. It is generally believed that German cigarettes smell like horse manure when smoking. Sokov had smoked once before, and it was indeed difficult to smoke. However, since Peter wanted to taste the flavor of German cigarettes, he could ask the soldiers to find a few boxes for him when cleaning the battlefield. Therefore, he agreed very readily: "When I take down the workers' new village, I will ask the soldiers to give you some boxes of German cigarettes."
"That's great, we'll just say a word." Peter said, and got up and walked to the door, shouting outside, "Come on!"
As he shouted, a worker in casual clothes, holding a rifle, walked into the room, straightened his body and waited for Peter to give the order. Peter pointed at him with his hand and ordered: "Take two people to observe the direction of the workers' new village, and report to us immediately if you hear any movement!"
After the workers left, Peter said to Sokov: "Col. Sokov, if there is any movement in the workers' new village, my people will come back and report it immediately."
Seeing that Peter had already sent someone to observe the movements in the direction of the workers' new village, Sokov did not add anything and asked Samoilov to lead the people to perform the same task. He pointed to the phone on the table and asked Zinchenko in a controversial tone: "Comrade Deputy Director, can you help me dial the Mamayev post? I want to know the situation there."
In order to facilitate command, Peter specially asked the telephone crew in the factory to install a high-frequency telephone in the duty room before dark. Without the help of the two factory directors, Sokov would not be able to connect to any place. Fortunately, Sokov and Zinchenko have a good relationship, and the other party agreed very readily: "Comrade Colonel, please wait, I will help you dial the phone immediately."
Two minutes later, Zinchenko held the microphone and said to Sokov: "Comrade Colonel, contact Mamayevgang."
Sokov took the phone and heard clearly that what was coming from inside was Sidolin's voice. Without going around in circles, he asked directly: "Chief of Staff, I am Sokov. How is the movement in Mamayevgang?"
"We repelled four German attacks during the day." Cidolin quickly replied: "After statistics, a total of six German tanks and assault guns were destroyed, and more than 500 German soldiers were killed..."
"Good job." Sokov was very satisfied when he heard the results of this battle. Although there were not as many tanks and assault guns as the workers' new village, it was entirely because of the terrain of Mamayev's hill, which was not conducive to the use of armored troops. The number of tanks and assault guns invested by the Germans would be much smaller. He then asked: "What are the results we have achieved in the few teams behind the enemy."
Hearing Sokov's question, Cidolin hesitated for a moment, and then replied: "The team sent by the reduction regiment attacked a battalion command post of the German army last night, killing more than a dozen lieutenant-level officers and more than 30 soldiers. However, the teams of the other regiments did not achieve any results."
"What, the other teams did not achieve results?" Sokov asked in surprise: "Comrade Chief of Staff, why is this?"
"This, this..." Sidolin became a little hesitant when he heard the question raised by Sokov, not knowing how to answer. At this moment, Sokov suddenly heard Ivanov's voice coming from the receiver: "Comrade Commander, let me report this to you."
"Hello, comrade, deputy commander." Sokov guessed that the reason why Sidolin was hesitant must be related to Ivanov. Since he was willing to explain to himself, that would be great: "If you have anything, just say it."
"Comrade Commander, my troops have been engaged in face-to-face position wars with the enemy since their formation. This kind of harassing battle behind enemy lines has never been fought." Ivanov explained to Sokov with a bitter face: "It may take them a few days to adapt before they can learn how to fight in the rear of the enemy."
After listening to Ivanov's explanation, Sokov felt that this was normal. It was probably not something that could be adapted to when fighting guerrilla warfare for a while, and it would take a process. Therefore, he said rationally: "I understand, comrade, please tell the commanders of several other regiments to adapt to how to fight in the rear of the enemy as soon as possible. Let them understand that if they want to defeat the enemy, they must not only fight against the enemy in the front, but also learn to drill into the rear of the enemy to stir up the earth."
This chapter is not over, please click on the next page to continue reading! "I understand." Ivanov couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief when he saw Sokov not scolding him. He quickly straightened his body and replied: "I will tell the other commanders what you said." After saying this, he paused for a moment and asked carefully, "Comrade Commander, how is your situation there? Are our troops who are in the Workers' New Village seriously injured?"
"Don't worry, Deputy Division Commander, since I'm here to command myself, I will be able to minimize the casualties of the troops." Sokov did not tell the other party, saying that he had given up the workers' village and was now organizing the troops to carry out night attacks, preparing to regain the positions he gave up during the day while reducing the casualties to the minimum. Instead, he reminded the other party: "The task of keeping the Mamayev post is very arduous. You must assure me that under no circumstances will the enemy not be allowed to occupy the Mamayev post."
"Don't worry, comrade of the division commander." Ivanov said confidently: "When people are in the position, we swear to live and die together with the position."
Before Sokov could put down the phone, Peter sent the workers who had been watching the situation and rushed in in a hurry and shouted to Peter: "Comrade Director, someone is coming from the workers' new village!"
"What, people came from the workers' new village?!" Whether it was Sokov or Peter, when he heard the workers say this, his face showed a look of surprise. Peter hurriedly asked, "Where are people?"
"Report!" As soon as Peter finished speaking, a second lieutenant quickly walked into the duty room, raised his hand to salute Sokov, and reported with excitement: "Comrade Commander, the regiment commander ordered me to come and report to you. We have successfully eliminated the enemies entrenched in the workers' new village and regained the positions that we gave up during the day."
"What, the workers' new village has been taken back?" Sokov asked in surprise: "Why didn't I hear gunshots and explosions?"