After handing over the defense of Bile Town to the 379th Division, Sokov took all the troops and withdrew back to the original defense area.
When Sidorin saw Sokov and Bely coming back, he reported the bad news to them: "Two comrades, division commanders, I just received the battle report forwarded by my superiors. Our army is surrounded in Matveyev Kurgan.
An army in the area has been completely wiped out by the powerful German offensive. The defenses on the Mius River have been broken into by the Germans and the Sixth Army, which is trapped in the encirclement, will become their next target."
"Misha, what should we do next?" Bely learned that an army was wiped out by the Germans, and he couldn't help but worry about the future of the Sixth Army: "If the Sixth Army is defeated by the enemy again, then what we are holding on to
Luhansk will be completely exposed to the enemy. At that time, we will have to fight against an enemy with superior strength and equipment."
"If the German army wants to annihilate the Sixth Army, it may not be possible in a day or two." Sokov said to Sidorin and Bely: "In other words, we still have enough time to adjust our defense deployment.
.”
"Our division only has more than 16,000 people, plus one tank brigade." Sidorin reminded Sokov: "It seems that there are quite a lot of troops, but they are distributed over such a vast area, and the defense forces everywhere are very weak.
, and there is no reserve force. Once the German army breaks through in any direction, the entire defense will become precarious."
Just when Sokov and others were at a loss, hearty laughter came from the direction of the door, and then a familiar voice sounded: "One division guards such a big city, but if there are two more divisions, I'm afraid the situation will be much better."
Already."
Sokov turned around and was pleasantly surprised to find Major General Merkulov, commander of the 67th Guards Division, and his political commissar, Colonel Sheiko, walking in from the door. He quickly went up to greet them and said:
"Hello, Major General Merkulov, Colonel Sheiko, what brought you here?"
"Comrade Commander," Merkulov walked up to Sokov, saluted him first, and then reported respectfully: "I have received an order from the Front Army Headquarters. Starting today, my
The 67th Guards Division is once again placed under the command of your Sokov Combat Group."
"What, you reassigned it to the Sokov Combat Group?" Sokov was very surprised when he heard the news. He turned to Sidorin and asked: "Chief of Staff, have you received the notification from the Front Army Headquarters?"
"No." Sidorin replied with a blank look on his face: "I haven't received any notification from the Front Army Headquarters during this period of time."
"Comrade Commander, don't worry, I think the official order from the Front Army Headquarters will come out soon." Major General Merkulov said with a smile: "As soon as the political commissar and I received the order, we rushed immediately
coming."
"Comrade General, are all your troops here?" Sokov couldn't help but be overjoyed when he learned that his superiors had sent at least one additional division of troops to him: "Where are they?"
"Unfortunately, Comrade Commander, the only people I can report to you at the moment are me and the political commissar, and a guard platoon protecting us. My troops are still on the march." Seeing the regretful expression on Sokov's face, he added
Added: "The 196th Guards Regiment will arrive by tomorrow morning at the latest; and the remaining 199th and 201st Regiments, as well as the 138th Guards Artillery Regiment, will also arrive in Luhansk one after another."
"Comrade General," although Merkulov is his subordinate, the other party's military rank is higher than his own, so when Sokov calls the other party, he always calls him directly by his military rank: "I want to ask, what's going on here this time?"
Apart from your division, are there any other troops in Luhansk?"
"Of course there is. In addition to our division, there are also Major General Makarenko's 321st Infantry Division and Colonel Sivakov's 71st Guards Division. There are also two tank brigades, four artillery regiments and two rocket launcher battalions.
, they will all arrive in Luhansk one after another."
Sokov, who was still uneasy about the prospect, learned that so many troops would arrive in Luhansk one after another, and hope suddenly reignited in his heart. When the defenders only had one division, they could only stay in the city and fight against the Germans.
Possible attack; when the defenders have two divisions, one division can be used to defend and the other to attack. Now there are four infantry divisions, three tank brigades, four artillery regiments and two rocket launcher battalions.
Kokov was fully confident that he would form an absolute advantage in the situation and give the rampant German army a head-on blow.
But how many troops could arrive in Luhansk? Based on Merkulov's words alone, Sokov couldn't believe it. He quickly ordered the communications troops to connect Chuikov's headquarters. He wanted to ask what happened.
Something happened.
After Chuikov received the call, he was still confused: "I didn't hear that any new combat group was going to be established. I was just informed that the 62nd Army would go to Moscow in early March and be organized into the base camp reserve team before starting operations.
Reorganize.”
"Ah, the 62nd Army is going to be transferred to Moscow?" Sokov was stunned by Chuikov's news. He asked tentatively: "Then should our division hand over its defense to friendly forces and rush to Moscow as soon as possible?"
"It shouldn't be necessary." Chuikov said in an uncertain tone: "In the defense deployment order I just received, there is no number for your division. I don't know if Commander Rokossovsky has other plans for you. I
I think you'd better call him in person and find out what's going on."
"It's strange, it's really strange." Sokov put down the phone and said to everyone sitting at the table: "The 62nd Army will be transferred to Moscow soon, but there is no number of our division in the list of troops to be transferred.
.”
"What, there is no designation for our division?" Bely said with some surprise: "Does it mean that our division will be separated from the 62nd Group Army?"
"I think it is entirely possible." Merkulov has experienced similar things several times and has very rich experience: "Look, my division is assigned to this group army for a while, and then transferred again.
To another group army? In short, the superiors will readjust the organization of the troops according to the situation on the battlefield."
"I think it's better to call Commander Rokossovsky and ask what's going on." Seeing that everyone was analyzing this confusing matter based on their own understanding, Xi
Dolin suggested to Sokov: "Perhaps only from him can we get accurate information."
Before Sokov could call, Malinin called first: "Colonel Sokov, on behalf of the Front Army Headquarters, I want to inform you of two things: First, your division has been transferred from the 62nd Group Army; second, the Front Army Headquarters has decided
Rebuild the Sokov Combat Group, which will consist of the 41st Guards Division, the 67th, 71st and 75th Guards Divisions, plus three tank brigades, an artillery division and two rocket launcher battalions, with you as commander
The position of chief of staff is held by Colonel Vitkov, the former deputy chief of staff of the 62nd Army."
After Sokov recorded Malinin's order, he stared at it for a long time, and finally couldn't help but ask: "Do you know which unit the 75th Guards Division is from?"