The black smoke Sokov saw on the 1st Battalion's position was exactly the black smoke rising when the Germans burned supplies and military coats. The decision he made to switch from offense to defense was considered a mistake. However, the troops started from defense.
The situation shifted to the offensive, and there were still many things to prepare for. After Sokov explained a few words to Starcha, he returned to the division headquarters with Samoilov and the guard platoon.
As soon as Sokov entered the headquarters, Sidorin put down the folder in his hand, walked quickly towards him, and said: "Comrade Division Commander, you are back!"
"How are you preparing?"
"The tanks of the tank brigade have been activated and will be ready for use on the battlefield after about twenty minutes of warm-up." Sidorin reported: "In addition, the three infantry regiments are ready to attack and will only wait for the tanks to pass through their defense areas.
, you can launch an attack on the enemy."
Sokov looked around and saw that Ivanov and Anisimov were there, but did not see Golikov, so he asked curiously: "By the way, where are Comrade Deputy Commander of the Front Army going?"
Is there a place?”
"Before you come back, Comrade Deputy Commander of the Front Army received a call from the Front Army Headquarters, saying that there was something important and asked him to rush back immediately." Sidorin finally emphasized: "In order to ensure his safety, I sent
We were escorted by a security platoon."
"Ah, Comrade Deputy Commander of the Front Army has left?" With a great man like Golikov by his side, not only can he keep abreast of the latest developments on the entire battlefield, but he can also get some conveniences in some aspects. Now he has
Knowing that the other party had left, Sokov couldn't help but feel a little disappointed. He asked absently: "Did he explain anything before he left?"
Sidorin heard the implication of Sokov's words and quickly said with a smile: "The superiors agreed to send two flying groups to provide air support for our offensive forces."
"Great, this is really great." Sokov was originally worried that if Golikov left like this, his superiors might not provide air support for his troops. Unexpectedly, before Golikov left, he also
This was really accomplished. "With the support of the air force, we can increase the distance of our counterattack to ten to fifteen kilometers."
Sidorin, who was still smiling at first, stiffened when he heard what Sokov said. After a while, he tentatively asked: "Comrade Commander, why do you need to set a counterattack distance?
If the enemy is really vulnerable, we can rush all the way to the Don River."
"Yes, Comrade Division Commander." Ivanov also echoed: "If the situation is really like what you said, and the Germans try to escape, our advance will make them more confused. We can advance in one go.
Go to the Don River and join forces with friendly forces heading south or north."
"Let me ask you." Seeing that the two of them were looking at the situation so optimistically, Sokov reminded them: "From yesterday to now, apart from the troops of our division, have other troops in the city begun to counterattack the enemy?
?”
"There should be." Sidorin said in an uncertain tone: "But their troops are weak. Even if they launch a counterattack, it will be on a small scale. I'm afraid they won't pose much of a threat to the enemy's defense line."
"That's right. The other troops in the city are weak, and even if they launch a counterattack, the effect will be very limited." Sokov pointed to the red and blue lines on the map and said to the two of them: "Look, where our division is located
The position has become a protrusion. If we continue to advance, not only will our troops be scattered, but the supply line will also be stretched extremely long. The German army can easily cut off our counterattack troops from both wings. Once this happens, we will attack
It won't be long before the troops run out of ammunition and fall into a desperate situation. At that time, the fate awaiting our officers and men will be either death in battle or being captured."
At this point, Sokov paused intentionally and carefully observed the reactions of the two people. Seeing that they were frowning and thinking hard about what he said, he continued: "According to my estimation, defending Stalingrad
The battle will be over soon. If our meritorious force is wiped out by the enemy on the eve of victory, it will be a huge blow to the morale of our army."
Although Sokov has said many times before that if his troops go deep alone, they are likely to be surrounded by the German army, Sidorin, Ivanov and others do not seem to take it seriously. They feel that even if the troops are trapped
Encirclement, but as long as the troops from the north or south arrive, they may be able to open a center and annihilate more enemies. At this moment, hearing Sokov's heartfelt words, he couldn't help but fall into deep thought.
Seeing that the two were silent, Sokov struck while the iron was hot and said: "Think about it, if we can move steadily, occupy an open area, and wait here for friendly forces to come and join us, what kind of honor will we get?
If the troops are really surrounded by the enemy and suffer heavy losses, not only will we have no merit, but we may also be sent to a military court."
"Comrade division commander, you don't need to say any more." Ivanov raised his head, looked at Sokov and said: "I understand what you mean. In order to achieve the final victory, we need to control the rhythm of the attack to avoid becoming a victor.
I have become a loser. Comrade Chief of Staff, I agree with the division commander's plan, what do you think?" His next words were asked to Sidorin.
After thinking for a while, Sidorin looked at Sokov and asked: "Comrade Commander, where do you think our counterattack should be?"
"Our troops are about to launch an attack on the German third line of defense," Sokov pointed to the location of the German defense line: "After breaking through the enemy's line of defense, we will advance another five to eight kilometers appropriately.
, and then ordered the troops to move to defense on the spot. Do you understand?"
"Understood." Sidorin nodded, and then asked: "Do I need to inform the leaders of each regiment about this?"
"Okay." After Sokov agreed with Sidorin's opinion, he thought for a moment and then added: "Chief of Staff, you have to especially tell Lieutenant Colonel Papuchenko of the 122nd Regiment not to charge too hard.
After completing the breakthrough, select a suitable location to build fortifications to prevent possible counterattacks by the Germans."
Regarding Sokov's order, Ivanov felt very puzzled: "Why do you need to remind the 122nd Regiment alone?"
"Colonel Bely and the tank battalion he commanded are now in the defense area of the 122nd Regiment." Sokov explained to Ivanov: "The equipment and tactics used by this tank battalion are different from other tanks.
The battalion is different. If they are allowed to run rampant, there may be tanks that can really rush to the Don River in one go."
If Sokov had not said that just now, Sidorin and Ivanov might have been ecstatic when they heard that the troops could rush to the Don River, but at this moment they were worried that if they rushed in, they might end up dead.
Plunge into the middle of the enemy. Before the friendly troops on the periphery arrive, the troops that rush forward will become lambs to be slaughtered. Waiting for them will be the fate of the entire army being destroyed.
Half an hour later, the three infantry regiments deployed in the front, under the cover of the tank brigade, rushed towards the German defense line. The German officers and soldiers who were retreating hastily never dreamed that the Soviet army would launch an attack at this moment.
Unexpected attacks forced some evacuating troops to return to the trenches to block the attacking Soviet troops.
Paulus, who was far away in the Gumlak area, was very surprised to learn that Sokov's troops had turned to the offensive again. According to his idea, the Russian army's tactics were rigid. Once they turned to defense, even if they saw
When the enemy retreats, they will not attack easily without receiving orders from their superiors. As for the retreat orders of the 71st and 76th Infantry Divisions, he had just given them a few hours ago. Not to mention that the Russians didn't know about it, even if his subordinates
Several army commanders were unaware of this. In such a short period of time, it was impossible for the Russian army's higher-level command department to issue an order to switch to the offensive. Unexpectedly, Sokov's troops seized the opportunity in time to attack the retreating troops.
Launched an attack.
What was happening now was beyond Paulus's understanding. After staring at the map on the wall for a while, he turned around and asked Schmidt: "Chief of Staff, what is going on? Why did the Russians react like this?"
So fast. Our troops had just retreated, and Sokov's troops launched an attack? Are there Russian spies within us?"
"Your Excellency, Commander, I think it is impossible for us to have Russian spies in our ranks." After Schmidt denied the possibility of Russian spies in the headquarters with a positive tone, he analyzed to Schmidt: "According to the rest of the
According to reports from the region, except for the offensive of the 41st Guards Division stationed at Mamayev Hill, the Russian troops in other areas only had small-scale battles with our army. According to my analysis, at Mamayev Hill
The offensive in the region must be Colonel Sokov’s personal act.”
After all, Paulus was a famous general in the German army and had received a good military education. He quickly calmed down his emotions. After listening to Schmidt's analysis, he nodded and said: "Chief of Staff, you can tell me
That's right. This Colonel Sokov has always been unreasonable and caused our troops to suffer a lot. Sometimes, I even feel that he is not a Russian, or even a person from this world, because I feel that he is not a Russian at all.
Like the Russians I know."
"Your Excellency, Commander." After Schmidt waited for Paulus to finish speaking, he quickly asked for instructions: "What should we do, let the troops continue to retreat, or stop and block the attack?"
Paulus turned around and stared at the map for a while, and said to Schmidt: "Chief of Staff, you immediately send a telegram to General Roskai to ask his troops to stop the transfer and move to block the attack on the spot. Under no circumstances can the Russians be allowed to
The people rushed to the Don River to join forces with their troops heading south or north.
As for General Rodenburg's 76th Infantry Division, since they were not attacked by the Russians, they were allowed to continue moving to the Don River Basin as planned."
When Paulus's order was issued, Roskai was riding in his barrel truck, escorted by an armored car and three trucks full of soldiers, heading towards the Don River. A three-wheeled motorcycle caught up from behind.
, stopped not far from the bucket truck. An officer wearing a large-brimmed hat jumped out of the sidecar and trotted towards the bucket truck.
Seeing the sudden appearance of the officer, Roskai quickly ordered the driver to stop. After the car stopped, the division chief of staff sitting next to Roskai opened the door and rushed to the officer who came over and asked: "What's the matter?"
"Report to the Chief of Staff!" the officer replied quickly: "I just received a telegram from the Army Group Headquarters, ordering our division to stop retreating and switch to defense on the spot to block the attacking Russians."
"Bring me the telegram." After the division chief of staff took the telegram from the officer's hand, he quickly browsed the contents, then turned to Roski and said: "Your Excellency, division commander, this telegram is indeed from the group army headquarters.
, ordered our division to stop moving and move to defense on the spot."
After hearing this, Roski asked casually: "Since our division has been ordered to move to defense, what about General Rodenburg's 76th Infantry Division? Will it also move to defense together?"
"No." The division chief of staff shook his head and replied: "According to the order of the headquarters, the 76th Infantry Division continues to move to the Don River Basin. Only our division has moved to defense on the spot."
"Damn bastard, isn't this asking our division to stay and die?" After Roski cursed in a low voice, he said to the division chief of staff: "Leave one regiment to serve as a blocking mission, and the rest of the troops will continue in accordance with the original order.
Retreat to the Don River Valley."
"But, your Excellency, the division commander, the commander ordered our division to switch to defense. If we continue to retreat, I'm afraid it will be difficult to explain in the future." The division chief of staff reminded Roski: "Would you think about it again?"
"Don't think about it, just give my order like this." Roski waved his hand and said carelessly: "If I go up to the peak to pursue the case, I will say that it is to prevent the division headquarters from being attacked by the Russians, so I will continue to attack.
Transferred from the Don River Basin.”
After the officer left with Roski's order, the convoy continued to move forward. Roski said to the division chief of staff: "Chief of Staff, according to convention, our division headquarters must be at least thirty kilometers away from the front line. And where are we now?
, it is only two or three kilometers away from the front line. If the Russians break through our division's defense line, their tanks will appear outside my headquarters in less than ten minutes."
"You are right." The division chief of staff agreed: "As the commander of a division, there is really no need to establish the headquarters so close to the front line. It will pose a great threat to your safety. We should move it as soon as possible.
Division headquarters moved to a safer location."
Seeing that the chief of staff agreed with him, Roski nodded, with a satisfied smile on his face. As long as the chief of staff of the division agreed with him, even if Paulus pursued him in the future, he would be able to handle it with ease.
While the two were talking, the roar of an aircraft engine suddenly came from the air. The armored vehicle leading the way suddenly deviated from the road and drove towards the woods on the side of the road. The driver of the barrel truck suddenly turned the steering wheel and also
Follow and drive towards the roadside.
The roadside was full of potholes. The driver drove the car so fast that Roskai jumped out of his seat. His head hit the roof of the car so hard that he almost burst into tears from the pain. He grabbed the seat in front of him.
He leaned back on his seat and yelled at the driver: "What are you doing and why are you driving the car towards the roadside?"
"Your Excellency, Division Commander, the air strike is an air strike!" the driver replied without looking back while driving: "Russian planes appeared in the sky. They will soon swoop down and drop bombs on us and strafe us. If we don't get off the road as soon as possible,
