Although in Sokov's impression, the Russians were procrastinating in their work, Anisimov's movements were very quick to promote the heroic company commander. In less than an hour, he walked into the command center with the printed flyer.
While handing the leaflet to Sokov and Ivanov, he said, "Two division commanders, these are the sample drafts just printed by comrades from the Political Department. See what else needs to be improved!"
Sokov took the sample leaflet with the smell of ink and quickly browsed the contents above. Seeing the sample paper introducing the battle of the hero company commander in detail, the results achieved, etc., he nodded with satisfaction, then turned his head and rushed to Sidolin, who was standing next to the phone, and asked: "Comrade Chief of Staff, is Lieutenant Colonel Yershakov's new telegram sent over?"
"Receive." Cidolin quickly replied, "When the radio operator finishes the translation of the telegram, I will take it to you."
After reading the contents of the sample draft, Ivanov looked at Sokov and asked, "Comrade Commander, I think it is very well written and very touching. What do you think?"
"I think it's not bad." Although Sokov and Anisimov have not known each other for a long time, he absolutely believes that at the same level, there is no problem with writing a touching publicity material. At this moment, seeing the newly printed sample manuscript, the content on it is indeed very exciting. He nodded slightly and said, "When the Chief of Staff received the telegram from Lieutenant Colonel Yershakov and filled in the company commander's name, the political commissar can arrange for people to send these flyers to the soldiers."
"Comrade Commander, I have figured it out." Sokov was speaking, and Cidolin walked over from the phone with a telegram and said, "The commander of the anti-tank company is Mikhail Panikah, with a rank of lieutenant. He used to be from the 57th Army. Yesterday, when the main force of the division crossed the river, he was temporarily incorporated into our division."
"That's right, although our division has been transferred to the rear for replenishment, due to limited time, we were transferred back into the city as soon as halfway through the replenishment work." Ivanov was very afraid that Sokov would not understand the specific situation, so he explained to him: "There are many troops that were supplemented during our march. Since there were too many replenishment soldiers and troops, not to mention ordinary soldiers, even officers, regiment-level commanders may not be able to call their names."
"Comrade Political Commissar," Ivanov's words reminded Sokov. He thought that in the battle to defend Stalingrad, many soldiers died shortly after entering the city, and did not even leave their names. He did not want similar things to happen in his own troops, so he said to Anisimov: "Let political workers at all levels hurry up and make the roster of commanders and fighters. We must find out the names of each commander and fighter in the division. Even if they died in the battle, I don't want them to become nameless martyrs, so as not to end the war. When their living relatives come here to find them, they disappoint their relatives because we don't know their names."
Regarding the order Sokov assigned, Anisimov nodded vigorously and said firmly: "Don't worry, comrade in the division, I will arrange political workers at all levels in the division to make a detailed roster to ensure that everyone in the division can leave their names. In this way, even if they sacrifice, we have a way to contact their relatives and return the relics to their families."
After arranging the work to Anisimov, Sokov said to Cydolin: "Chief of Staff, send a telegram to the Stalkha Regiment and Yershakov Regiment, ordering them to withdraw the Mamayev hill after dark."
"Will they give up their positions?" Cidolin asked in surprise when he heard this order: "Comrade Commander, what are you going to do if your superiors want to hold them accountable?"
"Our troops do not have aircraft, tanks and artillery. If we want to fight positions with the enemy in areas that are not conducive to defense, we can only consume precious troops in vain." Sokov knew very well that the next day would be the most difficult day for the Stalingrad defenders. As long as he had enough troops in his hands, he could ensure that the Mamayev club was not lost. Regarding Sidolin's concern, he said confidently: "I will report this to the commander later, and I guess he will agree."
Sokov wanted to withdraw his troops back to Mamayev, except for Sidolin's objection, Ivanov and Anisimov were desperate for it. No matter what, the two were the first commanders of this army, and the casualties of any commander and fighter would make them feel distressed. Sokov's approach now can protect the lives of more commanders and fighters. They knew that they would definitely have opinions on doing this, but they still expressed their support for Sokov.
Seeing that Ivanov and Anisimov expressed their support to him, Sokov did not delay. He immediately picked up the phone on the table and ordered the communications troop to connect to the army headquarters. After hearing Krelov's voice coming from the receiver, he said straight to the point: "Comrade Chief of Staff, I am Sokov. I want to withdraw all the troops deployed on the left and right wings to Mamayev's hill after dark. I wonder if it is possible?"
"Retrieve the troops back to Mamayev?" Krelov, who was just setting up factory defense missions, was stunned when he heard Sokov say this, and then asked without hesitation: "Why should we withdraw?"
"I plan to shrink my troops and defend Mamayev's post with all my strength." Sokov remembered that as soon as the Soviet counterattack failed in early October, the German army gathered a large number of troops and launched a fierce attack on the Derrensky tractor factory and the barricade factory, defeating the Soviet troops that were holding there in a miserable way. If Mamayev's post was not lost, it might still play a restraining role, making the enemy dare not attack the above two factories with all their might. "Only by defending Mamayev's post, the enemy cannot split the defense line in the south and north of our city, and cannot cut off our contact with the other strait..."
After hearing Sokov's series of reasons, Krelov, who had originally wanted to force him to stick to the positions on both sides of the left and right wings, was silent. Trekov, who was talking to Krelov, saw Krelov holding the microphone in a daze, walked over and asked with concern: "Chief of Staff, do you have any worries?"
"Comrade Commander," Krelov saw that it was Cuikov talking to him, and quickly covered the microphone with his hands, repeated Sokov's words to him, and finally asked: "Tell me, can I agree with Sokov's request?"
"Let him withdraw the troops outside." Fortunately, Cuikov realized that with the failure of the counterattack, it was unwise to continue to place the troops in a location that was not conducive to defense to fight the enemy's attack, so he said rationally: "Anyway, our counterattack has ended, and the Yershakov regiment, who was responsible for the cover mission, also completed their mission. So he withdrew all the troops outside of the Guards' 41st Division to consolidate the defense of Mamayev."
Krelov let go of his hand covering the microphone and said, "Col. Sokov, I have already told the commander your request, and he agrees with your request. After dark, you can withdraw the troops arranged on the left and right wings in batches for the defense of Mamayev."
After explaining these words, Krelov said unsatisfiedly: "Col. Sokov, I think it is necessary to remind you. There are thousands of people in your hands. If you can't hold Mamayev's post, the military court will be waiting for you. Do you understand?"
Chapter completed!