If the troops attacking the Soviet position at this moment were not the 305th Infantry Division of the German army, but the engineering battalion, the artillery fire of the artillery regiment could not destroy many enemies, because they were all three or five people for a combat team, using the cover of the craters to approach the Soviet position step by step. Once they were bombarded, they could use the craters to hide nearby in order to minimize casualties.
The officers and soldiers of the 305th Division followed in groups of assault guns and charged towards the Soviet positions. Now the assault guns in front have been killed, and they have lost their cover and become lambs to be slaughtered. Hearing the roar of shells from the air, he quickly rushed into the crater next to him, and was blown away by the shells in groups.
The shells falling in the German army exploded violently. In the deafening explosion, the smoke and fire lights rose into the air. The German soldiers who were blown into the air were then woven into shrapnel and gravel was cut into pieces. The bloody rain was still gasified in the air by the high temperature produced by the explosion, mixed with the residual limbs and broken arms and weapon parts, and fell down like a scattered flower of the goddess.
Fortunately, the Soviet army had limited artillery and the shelling of the enemy lasted only a few minutes before it came to an abrupt end. However, even so, at least more than 200 German soldiers were lying forever on this Russian land and could no longer stand up. As soon as the Soviet artillery stopped, the surviving German soldiers got up from the ground and fled to the back regardless of everything. They just wanted to escape as far as possible.
Sokov, who was staying in the division command, received a call from Savage. He learned that the enemy had retreated, but said lightly: "I understand!" He put down the phone and said to Lyudnikov who was sitting opposite him, "Comrade Colonel, the enemy's attack has been repelled by our artillery."
After learning of the enemy's attack and being repelled again, Lyudnikov's face showed a relaxed expression. Since he led his troops to the barricade factory, there have been battles every day, but this is the first time he has seen it win a battle as easy as today. He nodded slightly and said to Sokov: "Col. Sokov, I heard the commander say that you have a good fight in wars before, and I was quite unconvinced. I think even if you can fight, can your combat experience be compared to me, a person who has been in the army for more than 20 years? But after these two days of fighting, I think the commander said it very reasonably. You are indeed a very good warfare person. If you don't say anything else, just talk about the casualties of the troops, I'm afraid that even if you can fight, I'm afraid that even if you can fight, I'm less than one-fifth of mine."
Sokov smiled faintly and said modestly: "Comrade Colonel, you have been too rewarded. I haven't been in the army for a long time and have never been to a military academy. These fighting methods are also something I can do."
"When it comes to military academy, I remember one thing." Lyudnikov had studied at the famous Fulongzhi Military Academy before the war. When he heard that Sokov had not attended the military academy, he said enthusiastically: "When we repel the German attack on Stalingrad, I suggest that you go to Fulongzhi Military Academy to learn more command skills, which will be very helpful for your future promotion."
Sokov remembered that shortly after the war began, the Fulongzhi Military Academy moved out of Moscow, but he was not sure where he moved. At this moment, he heard that the school mentioned by Lyudnikov could not help but ask curiously: "Comrade Colonel, I heard that the academy had moved out of Moscow, I don't know where he moved?"
"Tashkent." Lyudnikov replied briefly: "After the war broke out, the academy moved to Tashkent and opened a crash course for cadre training, and the study time was only three months." Perhaps worried that Sokov had concerns, he further explained, "Even if you enter the military academy to study, in such a short time, your superiors will not be able to assign a new commander to replace your position. Therefore, after you finish your studies, you can still return to your original troops."
Lyudnikov's words made Sokov feel a little excited. He knew that he had never attended the Military Academy and was able to become the commander of the Guards Division, which had a lot of luck. But if he wanted to continue to be promoted and had not studied in the Military Academy, it would probably be difficult to go further.
"Comrade Colonel," Sokov asked tentatively, "who do I need to apply to if I want to study in the Military Academy?"
"Is this a matter of saying that we are now affiliated with the 62nd Army. If you want to enter the Military Academy, you will naturally apply to Commander Cuikov." Lyudnikov said with a smile: "With his appreciation for you, he will definitely agree to your request."
"Comrade Colonel, do you know the conditions for admission?" Sokov and Lyudnikov finished speaking and immediately asked, "I don't know if I meet the admission standards."
"Col. Sokov, since the college mainly trains synthetic army commanders with extensive knowledge from the army level, the admission conditions for students are extremely strict. They are required to graduate from the Senior Command School of Synthetic Army of Various Countries, hold a battalion-level commander for more than two years, have practical experience in team command, have good combat qualities, are under 38 years old, and have the rank of captain or major." After talking about the admission standards, Lyudnikov saw that Sokov's face was a little gloomy and added: "But don't worry, with your performance on the battlefield and the merits you have made, I think the commander will definitely agree with it as long as you apply."
Originally, Sokov was very confident about studying in Fulongzhi Military Academy, but after hearing what Lyudnikov said, he seemed a little nervous. He thought to himself: I will go to the headquarters for a meeting tomorrow. Should I talk to Cui Kov in private at that time to see if he allows him to enter the Military Academy?
While he was thinking about it, the phone rang. Sokov looked at several phones on the table and found that the phone was ringing in front of Lyudnikov. He thought that a subordinate of the division was going to report to Lyudnikov.
Unexpectedly, after picking up the phone and listening for a moment, Lyudnikov said respectfully: "...Yes, Comrade Commander, he is right across from me. Do you want to talk to him?...Okay, I'll let him answer the phone immediately."
Sokov took the phone call handed over by Lyudnikov and asked blankly at the microphone: "Hello, Comrade Commander, do you have any instructions?"
According to his idea, Cuikov might want to ask if the road from the barricade factory to the headquarters is peaceful. Unexpectedly, he heard Cuikov ask on the phone: "Col. Sokov, I heard that you gave Director Peter a design drawing. Is this true?"
"Yes, Comrade Commander." Sokov heard that he was asking about self-propelled artillery, and Sokov immediately became spiritual: "I think we should also have a kind of technical equipment similar to German assault guns, so he drew a sketch for Director Peter and wrote some design ideas for him."
"Do you think this kind of technical equipment can be put into the army after it is produced?" Cui Kefu asked.
"Comrade Commander, I think that as long as the output is guaranteed, this kind of technical equipment can be installed on a large scale in the army soon." Sokov replied: "This will help improve the strength of our artillery."
"But I think you may have forgotten an important thing," Cuikov said after he said that he deliberately reminded him: "The traffic between us and the other side has been interrupted. I am afraid that many materials for producing this new technical equipment cannot be transported from outside."
Hearing what Cuikov was worried about, Sokov couldn't help laughing. He said to the microphone: "Comrade Commander, if I'm not wrong, tomorrow's meeting may be related to our army's future major actions. Do you have no confidence in us defeating the enemy? Anyway, I think the enemy will be defeated by us sooner or later, and we can find ways to overcome some of the difficulties we are facing at present."
"Col. Sokov," Cuikov did not pay attention to Sokov's joke, but said with a serious expression: "I talked carefully with Director Peter. He said that if all the reserve forces are used, a prototype of automatic artillery can be produced in about two days. After the prototype is produced, you will test this technical equipment on the battlefield and provide Director Peter and others with the necessary data so that they can improve in the future."
After chatting about self-propelled artillery for a while, Cui Kefu planned to hang up the phone. Cui Kefu quickly called him and said hesitantly: "Comrade Commander, I want to ask you something."
When Cuikov heard Sokov speak to himself in this tone, he immediately asked alertly: "Col. Sokov, what happened to you? Why do you talk to me in this tone?"
"That's right, Comrade Commander." Sokov asked with a red face: "I want to study at the Fulongzhi Military Academy and improve my command level. I wonder if you agree to me to study at the Military Academy?"
"What, do you want to enter the Fulongzhi Military Academy?" Cui Kefu said unexpectedly: "Now that it is fighting. As the commander of the first division, how can you leave your combat post at will?" He kindly reminded Sokov, "Although the situation in the city is not good for our army, we will soon take major military actions to reverse this unfavorable situation. If you leave at this time, you will not only give up the honor that you can get, but you will even be criticized."
"Comrade Commander, you misunderstood." Sokov didn't want people to misunderstand that he wanted to be a deserter, so he quickly explained to Cuikov: "I mean, after defeating the enemy who attacked Stalingrad, I will go to the Fulongzhi Military Academy to study. But Colonel Lyudnikov said that if you want to enter the academy, you must get your permission."
"Since you have defeated the enemy at the city of Stalingrad and then studied at the Fulongzhi Military Academy, there is nothing wrong with studying." Trekov was relieved when he learned that Sokov did not leave Stalingrad now. He promised Sokov: "As soon as the enemy is defeated, I will personally recommend you to study at the Fulongzhi Military Academy."
"Thank you, Comrade Commander, thank you so much." Sokov was overjoyed when he heard that he agreed to study at the Fulongzhi Military Academy after the end of the Stalingrad defense war. He knew very well that it would be very helpful for his future if he studied for three months, so he kept expressing his gratitude to Cui Kev.
Seeing Sokov put down the phone with a smile, Lyudnikov immediately reached out to him and said kindly: "Col. Sokov, please accept my sincere blessings and wish you good results in the academy."
While shook hands with Lyudnikov, Sokov said with a smile: "Comrade Colonel, the commander only agreed to recommend me to study. Whether I can enter the academy will not know until we defeat the enemy who attacked Stalingrad."
"The commander has agreed to recommend you to the Fulongzhi Military Academy, and this matter is almost done." Lyudnikov said with a smile: "You know, the most famous generals nowadays: Zhukov, Rokosovsky, Konev, Huasilevsky and others have all studied in the Fulongzhi Military Academy. If you can enter this academy, you will surely gain their trust and respect."
The people mentioned by Lyudnikov are all famous generals in the Patriotic War, especially the first three, and are even called "the three troikas of the Soviet Army." Not to mention Vasilevsky, he is the future chief of staff. Being able to call these famous generals alumni is very helpful to his future.
It is certainly a pleasure to be able to study in Fulongzhi Military Academy. But Sokov was excited not long after, and then turned his attention back to the defense of the Barrier Factory. For him, the first priority at the moment was to resolutely defend the Barrier Factory and wait for the arrival of a large counterattack by the Soviet army.
Sokov calmed down and said to Lyudnikov: "Comrade Colonel, I have an idea now. When I go to the headquarters for a meeting tomorrow, if all the commanders at the regiment level and above go, once the enemy launches a sneak attack at night, then who will command the troops? Without a unified command, I am afraid the troops will fall into chaos."
Lyudnikov thought about Sokov's statement for a moment, and felt that there was such a possibility, so he humbly asked: "Col. So, what should we do?"
"I think it's enough to bring Lieutenant Colonel Guzman of the 650th Regiment and Commander Belkin under my command," Sokov advised Lyudnikov: "As for the remaining two infantry commanders and one artillery commander, let them stay to deal with possible enemy situations."
After two days of getting along, Lyudnikov had already had great trust in Sokov. Although what he said was not considered as obedient, he would at least not distort. Therefore, he only thought about the plan proposed by Sokov for less than a minute, and nodded and said, "You are right. When we go to the meeting, the factory cannot be without the regiment-level commander. Just do what you said, and only let the 650th Regiment leader Lieutenant Colonel Gusman and Belkin go to the meeting with us. The remaining leaders stayed in the factory to deal with possible emergencies."