There were not many troops to sneak attack the German positions. Each regiment only sent one company of troops. However, many of the German troops who stood on these positions were so drunk that they lost their combat effectiveness and were defeated by the Soviet army.
Lieutenant Colonel Starcha received a report from his subordinates from the enemy's position and learned that the enemy had no power to fight back. He could not help but think of seizing the enemy's position. He personally called Sokov and informed him of the situation.
After the report, he cautiously proposed: "Comrade division commander, since the enemy has been beaten by us and has no ability to fight back, do you think we can take the opportunity to send additional troops and seize this position from the enemy's hands?"
"No." As soon as Starcha finished speaking, Sokov rejected his request without hesitation: "I know you have the ability to capture the enemy's position, but have you ever thought about occupying the enemy's position?
After that, what force will you use to defend it? Instead of spreading your force and being annihilated by the enemy one by one, it is better to stay in the existing position and consume as much of the enemy's effective strength as possible. When the time is right, launch the final general offensive.
It’s not too late either.”
What Sokov didn't expect was that less than half an hour after his call with Starcha ended, Chuikov called from the headquarters. He asked straight to the point: "Colonel Sokov, I heard that you sent
The troops attacked the enemy's positions at night and achieved good results, right?"
"Yes, Comrade Commander." Sokov replied excitedly: "The Germans may have thought that tonight is Christmas Eve and we will not take action against them, so they behaved very paralytically. As soon as our sneak attack troops attacked, they
It caused huge casualties to myself. Although the results of the battle have not been calculated yet, I estimate that at least three to four hundred enemies were eliminated."
If it were in the past, Chuikov would have praised Sokov greatly when he heard such results. But after listening today, he was unexpectedly silent. After a long time, he spoke: "From the results obtained,
Look, after destroying so many enemies, you are fully capable of occupying the enemy's positions. But why did you reject this suggestion after your subordinates made it to you?"
Chuikov's words stunned Sokov. He thought to himself that he had clarified the serious relationship with Chuikov when he was at the headquarters, so why did he bring up the old matter again now? "Comrade Commander," Sokov said cautiously: "
I once reported to you that we are indeed capable of seizing enemy positions. However, our division does not have enough troops. Once troops are sent to occupy these positions, the troops will be dispersed, allowing the enemy to defeat us one by one. In this regard,
I reported it to you when I was at the headquarters."
"Yes, you did report it." Chuikov slowed down and said, "I received an order from my superiors, saying that when you have the advantage, you do not consider taking back the area occupied by the enemy. This is an extremely dangerous situation.
Thoughts, let me give you a wake-up call, and let me order you to occupy these positions."
"I'm sorry, Comrade Commander." After hearing Chuikov's order to occupy the German positions, Sokov immediately retorted: "I think it will be difficult for me to carry out your order. After all, our division has limited troops, even if we barely occupy these positions.
In the coming days, I’m afraid it will be difficult to block the enemy’s attack.”
In order to prevent Chuikov from forcibly giving him an order, Sokov also specifically emphasized: "Comrade Commander, the current position of our division has formed a salient. The left and right wings of the salient are very vulnerable, and the Germans only need to launch
A single forceful attack can surround the main force of our division. Once this happens, I'm afraid the consequences will be very serious."
"I understand, Colonel Sokov." Chuikov sighed softly and said helplessly: "This is the order given to me by my superiors. But I understand your situation. Don't worry, I will report this matter to my superiors in detail.
, I hope they can cancel this unrealistic order."
Sidorin and Ivanov, who were standing nearby, waited for Sokov to put down the phone and asked anxiously: "Comrade division commander, what is going on? Why did the superiors know about it before we reported it?"
What about what’s going on here?”
"Isn't this simple?" Sokov replied with a wry smile: "In our army, we have people from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and they will report the news to their superiors through special channels."
"People from the Ministry of Internal Affairs?" Sidorin thought for a moment, then a shocked expression appeared on his face: "Is it Lieutenant Samoilov? You know, he is the only one in the entire division who is from the Ministry of Internal Affairs."
"This is impossible." Out of his trust in Samoilov, Sokov did not hesitate to deny Sidorin's guess: "Even if Lieutenant Samoilov was a member of the Ministry of Internal Affairs before, he secretly
It is absolutely impossible for him to do such a thing as snitching. Because he didn’t even know that I was talking to Starca. If there is any suspicion, the people around Lieutenant Colonel Starca are highly suspicious.”
"Comrade Division Commander, do you mean that there are people from the Ministry of Internal Affairs in the regiment headquarters of the 124th Regiment?" After Ivanov asked this question in surprise, Sokov could not speak and decisively denied it: "
I think this is impossible. I know all the commanders in the regiment and they are all my old subordinates who have been with me for many years. How could there be people from the Ministry of Internal Affairs?"
Sokov did not speak, but thought dumbfounded in his heart. It seemed that people from the Ministry of Internal Affairs had placed personnel in the division very early, but they were not noticed. But in order not to cause unnecessary panic, Sokov decided to
If you pretend to be confused and don't find out who is the person assigned by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, you might be able to make good use of them in the future.
Thinking of this, Sokov waved his hand and said: "Okay, as for whether there are people from the Ministry of Internal Affairs in the 124th Regiment, we will not discuss it for the time being. Chief of Staff, please call the commanders of each regiment immediately and reiterate my order.
, after completing the night attack mission and causing heavy casualties to the enemy, immediately retreat to the original position, and no one is allowed to occupy the enemy's position without authorization."
Although Sokov repeatedly emphasized that he did not have enough troops to occupy easily accessible positions, Sidorin always disagreed. But when he just heard Sokov mention the concept of "bulge", he was suddenly startled and broke into a cold sweat.
After carefully checking the map, I found that what Sokov said was very reasonable. The three Guards regiments were located in a protruding part, and the defenses on the left and right wings were extremely weak. As long as the enemy attacked from both sides, the main force of the division would be encircled.
The danger. Therefore, after hearing Sokov's order, Sidorin agreed very readily.
"Comrade Commander," Ivanov took advantage of Sidorin's phone call to give the order and asked Sokov with a frown: "We have been at our current position for a month, but our superiors have never sent us any instructions.
New reinforcements are coming, are we going to continue to be in a stalemate with the Germans like this?"
"Don't worry, my comrade deputy division commander." Seeing Ivanov looking anxious, Sokov comforted him and said, "According to my estimation, in half a month at most, the situation will fundamentally improve."
Regarding Sokov's statement, Ivanov was dubious: "Commander Tong, how do you know that the situation will fundamentally improve in half a month?"
"It's very simple." Sokov explained: "According to the intelligence I have, the main force of our army on the periphery is approaching Mamayev Heights step by step. As long as we wait for us to join forces with friendly forces, we will have enough
strength. When the time comes, it will not be too late for us to launch a new attack on the enemy."
Ivanov couldn't help but be overjoyed when he learned that it would be possible to join forces with friendly forces in half a month. He quickly asked: "Comrade Commander, is what you said true? Can we really join forces with the west side in half a month?"
Will the friendly forces arriving join forces?"
"It should be no problem." Sokov said confidently.
"What are you talking about?" Sidorin, who had just finished the phone call, saw the joy on Ivanov's face and was curious about what Sokov said that could make Ivanov so excited, so he asked strangely
: "Why will we join forces with friendly forces within half a month?"
"That's what happened." Sokov explained to Sidorin: "Based on the intelligence I have, I believe that in half a month at most, the troops coming from the west will be able to join us."
"There will be friendly forces coming to join us in half a month?" Sidorin became excited after hearing what Sokov said: "Comrade division commander, please analyze whose troops will join us.
?General Rokossovsky or General Vatutin? Or the troops of our front?"
Sokov remembered that not long after, the Don Front and the Stalingrad Front merged to form the new Stalingrad Front, with Rokossovsky as the commander of the front. However, he did not directly tell the story.
, but pretended to be thinking, and after a long time he said: "I think it should be the Don River Army of General Rokossovsky."
Sidorin stared at the map for a while, then nodded and agreed with Sokov's statement: "That's right, Comrade Division Commander. Judging from the situation of the enemy and ourselves on the map, there are indeed troops that can rush over to join us.
Probably General Rokossovsky's Don Front."
"Comrade Chief of Staff," Sokov was concerned about the troops that were conducting night attacks, and did not discuss with the two of them whose troops would rush over to join forces. "What is the situation of the night attack troops? When can they withdraw?"
fighting?"
Sidorin raised his hand to look at his watch and replied: "I have just asked the commanders of each regiment. The night attack troops have begun to withdraw from the battle. In about half an hour, they will all be able to return to their original starting points.
position."
Knowing that his order was faithfully passed down, Sokov nodded with satisfaction, and then said: "Very good! Our troops should follow the orders and prohibitions. When the superiors give the order to advance, even if the front is a mountain of swords and a sea of fire, we must not look back.
advance; after receiving the order to retreat, no matter how great the results can be achieved by continuing to fight, we must withdraw from the battle as soon as possible."
"Have the results been calculated?" Ivanov asked.
"Not yet." Sidorin shook his head and said, "I'm afraid we won't be able to obtain accurate results until all the troops are withdrawn."
"After all the troops have withdrawn, we will immediately tally the results." Sokov told Sidorin: "Then report the statistics to the army headquarters in the shortest possible time."
After giving the order, Sokov paused for a moment. Seeing that neither Sidorin nor Ivanov spoke, he then asked: "Is there anything else?"
"Comrade Division Commander," Sidorin's eyes fell on Sokov's epaulettes and he said, "Our superiors have officially informed us that the reform of military ranks in the army has officially started. However, since there are no conditions for a complete replacement, I am afraid that it will not be possible for a long time.
Within a period of time, there will be a situation where old military ranks and new military ranks coexist."
After knowing that the division had also received an order to adjust military ranks, Sokov asked: "How did you adjust the ranks of political workers?"
"Comrade division commander," Sidorin replied respectfully: "Except for division political commissar Anisimov and downsizing regiment leader Belkin, both of whom hold the rank of lieutenant colonel, the rest of the regiment political commissars all have the rank of major. Battalion level
, the political workers at the company level have the rank of lieutenant. Also, the political workers in the company still become instructors; while the first-level political instructors in the battalion are renamed instructors..."
After patiently listening to the adjustment of military ranks in the division, Sokov nodded and said: "Since there is currently no condition to change to new military ranks, all political workers will still wear the existing military ranks. Wait until Paul is defeated
For Sri Lanka’s troops, our superiors will uniformly replace us with new military ranks.”
"Comrade division commander," Ivanov looked at his watch, and then said to Sokov with a smile: "You rushed back from Moscow and commanded the troops to fight a battle before you had time to rest. You must be very tired.
.There are still a few hours until dawn, so you should take the time to take a rest."
"Comrade Chief of Staff, Deputy Division Commander," Sokov originally wanted to go to bed, but he took two steps towards the door, remembered an important thing, stopped and said to the two of them: "We will keep the safety of the Germans."
The night was turned upside down, and Paulus would be very annoyed. I think they might retaliate and attack our positions as soon as daybreak. You must take precautions to avoid being caught off guard by the enemy.
.”
"Don't worry, Comrade Commander." Sidorin said with a smile: "This is not the first time we have dealt with the Germans. We know what to do, so you can rest assured."
Sokov understood the abilities of Sidorin and Ivanov, and knew that they would know what to do after hearing his order, so he didn't have to worry too much. He nodded and walked toward the door confidently and boldly.
Coming to a nearby room, Sokov lay down but could not fall asleep. He was thinking in his heart, Paulus suffered such a big loss on Christmas Eve. With his character, would he really take revenge?
?If you really send troops to attack your position, just resolutely repel them. But if they don't attack, can you follow the same pattern and give the Germans another sneak attack on Christmas Eve?
