Samyko, who was criticized by Sokov, said with shame: "Comrade Commander, this is all an oversight on my part, because considering that the troops have just arrived in a new area and are mobilized frequently every day, if Koski Town strengthens
If we are vigilant, it will affect the mobilization work."
Sokov knew very well in his heart that even though Samyko was the chief of staff of the group army, most of the time he was just the executor of orders, and the person who arranged the work was the previous commander, Major General Ozerov. But his reply,
But Sokov is very satisfied, which shows that the chief of staff is a very responsible person and will not easily pass the blame to others.
"Precisely because the army has just been formed and has arrived in a new area, the security of the army headquarters is the top priority at the moment." Sokov said calmly: "Didn't I bring a security company with me?
Starting tomorrow, they will be responsible for the security of the headquarters."
"That's really great." Sameko agreed with Sokov's statement: "The security company you brought must have rich security experience. It would be great for them to be responsible for the security of the headquarters.
alright."
"Report!" When the two were discussing how to strengthen the headquarters' security work, a commander walked in from outside the door. After he raised his hand to salute the two, he reported to Sameko: "Comrade Chief of Staff, Guards Tank
Major General Polubyarov, commander of the 4th Army, has been ordered to come, I am waiting for your orders, please give instructions!"
"General Polubyarov, you came just in time." Samyko smiled and walked forward, took Polubyarov's hand, brought him to Sokov, and introduced him:
"Let me introduce you to the new commander."
"The new commander?" Polubyarov looked at the young Sokov in front of him, and the corner of his mouth twitched quickly: "Is he the new commander?"
"Hello, General Polubyarov." Sokov didn't wait for Samyko to introduce him, then he reached out to Polubyarov and said, "Let's get to know each other. I'm Major General Sokov."
, just transferred from the commander of the Sixth Army to the commander of the 27th Army."
"Sokov?!" Now that Sokov had stretched out his hand, Polubyarov couldn't be too rude. He quickly held Sokov's hand and said thoughtfully: "I seem to
I heard this surname somewhere, but I couldn’t remember it for a while.”
"General Polubyarov, of course you have heard of it." Samyko interrupted: "General Sokov has not been the commander of the Sixth Army for a long time. Before that, he was the commander of the 3rd Guards.
Commander of the 41st Division."
"The 41st Guards Division?" Upon hearing the name of this unit, Polubyarov raised his eyebrows and asked with some surprise: "It's the one that stood firm on Mamayev Hill and kept the Germans from getting close to the ferry.
and finally captured Paulus's 41st Guards Division."
Hearing Polubyarov's question, Sokov and Samyko looked at each other. He saw approval in each other's eyes, then turned to Polubyarov and replied affirmatively: "No.
Wrong, Comrade General, the troops I command are indeed the 41st Guards Division you just mentioned."
When he learned that the young and unusual new commander in front of him was actually the hero who defended Mamayev Heights, Polubyarov quickly stood at attention, straightened his back and saluted: "Comrade Commander, Guards
Polubyarov, commander of the 4th Tank Corps, reports to you, I am at your command, please give me instructions!"
"General Polubyarov, don't be so polite." Sokov raised his hand to return the salute and asked him to sit down. At the same time, he said: "From now on, we will fight the enemy side by side. We are all our own people. There is no need.
You’re so polite, please hurry up and take a seat.”
After Polubyarov sat down, Sokov asked: "General Polubyarov, your army has just been integrated into our army group. If you have any difficulties, just ask me."
"Comrade Commander," upon hearing Sokov's question, Polubyarov quickly stood up from his seat, straightened his body and said to Sokov, "I happen to have an opinion that I want to put forward to you."
"Sit down and talk, sit down and talk!" Seeing a general who was much older than himself treat him so respectfully, Sokov was somewhat unaccustomed to it. He quickly asked him to sit down again, and then asked with concern: "
If you have any opinions, just say them.”
"As soon as our army entered its defense zone, the group army headquarters ordered us to build fortifications." Polubyarov said with some displeasure: "According to the construction drawings distributed by superiors, if fortifications are really built in the defense zone,
, then our tanks will have no room for movement and can only be used as fixed forts in fortifications. If this is the case, what else do our tank troops need to do? It is better to directly transfer two artillery divisions, and the effect may be better.
.”
Sokov could hear the anger in Polubyarov's tone, so he comforted him and said: "Comrade General, I understand your feelings. If the tank loses its mobility, it can only be used as artillery."
, but due to the caliber of tank guns, the usefulness they can exert is far from being comparable to that of artillery."
"Comrade Commander, you are right." Seeing that Sokov actually expressed support for him, Polubyarov seemed surprised and said quickly: "Our army now has three tank brigades and one infantry brigade, so
We are all equipped with T-34/76 tanks. If we are used as artillery, we can only be equivalent to a 76.2 mm caliber cannon division at best."
"Wait a minute, Comrade General." Sokov heard this and keenly captured a piece of data: "What did you just say, that your military equipment is all old-fashioned T-34/76 tanks?"
"Comrade Commander, I think you may be mistaken." Polubyarov was stunned for a moment, and then explained to Sokov: "The T-34/76 tank is already the most advanced tank of our army, and the new
The tank may still be under development..."
"No, no, no, General Polubyarov, don't argue with me." Sokov interrupted Polubyarov's words without explanation, "As early as in the battle to defend Stalingrad, he joined us to fight.
The tank brigade is equipped with the latest model T-34/85 tanks, which are very effective against the German Tiger tanks."
"What did you say, Comrade Commander, that the tank brigade assigned to you is equipped with T-34/85 tanks?" Polubyarov asked in surprise: "You are not mistaken, are you?"
"How could there be a mistake?" Sokov said with some displeasure: "When the Red October Factory delivered the tanks to the troops, I saw it with my own eyes. Could this still be a mistake?"
As a tank corps commander, Polubyarov naturally hopes that his troops can be equipped with the best tanks, so as to improve the survival rate of the troops on the battlefield. After Sokov finished speaking, he asked tentatively:
"Comrade Commander, do you know when the superiors plan to start changing our uniforms for us?"
Sokov recalled the information about the T-34/85 tank in his mind, and remembered that in order to deal with the German Tiger and other new tanks, the Soviet army began to modify the 85mm gun on the T-34 tank in the autumn of 1943, and added
A tank crew was required. Mass production would not begin until December. But due to his appearance, the new tank appeared a year ahead of schedule and was tested in the battle to defend Stalingrad.
He looked at Polubyarov and said: "Comrade General, this new type of tank not only has greatly improved firepower and armor, but also has an additional tank crew. If your army needs to be re-equipped,
I wonder if you have enough tank crews to supplement it?"
"Comrade Commander, you don't have to worry about this." Polubyarov said with some excitement: "There are many tank soldiers in the infantry brigade of our army. If our superiors really change our equipment on a large scale,
I can draw the original tank troops from the infantry brigade to strengthen the re-equipped troops."
Considering that the Battle of Kursk is about to break out in a few months, Sokov feels that if the 4th Guards Tank Corps can be arranged to change their equipment as soon as possible, they will be able to play a greater role in the next battle. In order to achieve
With this goal in mind, he decided to get in touch with Yakov to see if the other party could negotiate with Ustinov to give priority to the tank brigade he belonged to.
However, considering that this matter may be affected by some uncertain factors, he did not give Polubyarov an accurate answer, but said euphemistically: "Comrade General, I will get in touch with my friends in the Equipment Department as soon as possible.
, see if he can find a way to replace some of our tanks..."
Polubyarov's breathing became rapid: "Comrade Commander, even if only one tank brigade, no, one tank battalion is replaced. As long as there is a battalion equipped with T-34,85 tanks, then our
Your combat effectiveness will be raised to a higher level."
"I will contact you as soon as possible about the change of clothes." After Sokov said this, he promptly changed the topic to the construction of fortifications: "Now, let's continue to talk about the fortifications."
Hearing Sokov mention the fortifications, the light in Polubyarov's eyes suddenly dimmed. He sighed softly and said to Sokov: "Comrade Commander, it would be better if we didn't repair the fortifications.
The mobility of our tanks will not be affected."
"You are right, Comrade General." Sokov said: "I intend to order the troops to stop the construction of all fortifications."
"Stop the construction of all fortifications?" Polubyarov asked in surprise: "Why?"
Sokov thought that instead of explaining to the commanders of each division why there was no need to build fortifications, it would be better to call them all together and make a unified explanation during the meeting, which would save trouble. Thinking of this, Sokov
The husband ordered Sameko: "Comrade Chief of Staff, immediately summon all division and brigade commanders to come here for a meeting. I have important things to announce to them."