Sokov was not a god, so naturally he could not conjure enough weapons for the armed forces out of thin air. After hearing Ponejelin's question, he couldn't help but feel a headache.
At this time, Sidorin suddenly said: "Comrade Commander, I heard that there is an arsenal in the city. There must be a lot of weapons in it. Why don't we discuss it with General Antonetta and let him take out an arsenal from the warehouse?"
Collect weapons and give them to us to equip our troops?"
Regarding Sidorin's proposal, Sokov felt that it was very reasonable, so he was going to ask Ponedelin to contact Antonetta and ask the other party to transfer a batch of weapons to his troops.
But before Sokov could speak, he heard Ponejelin say: "Comrade Commander, I think the Romanians are still wary of us today, so it will be very difficult for them to provide us with weapons."
"Lieutenant Colonel Ponejelin, arming the troops is our top priority. Otherwise, when the Germans launch an attack, our soldiers will have no choice but to fight the Germans with their teeth and fists." Sokov knew very well that Bo
Nedelin's identity is relatively sensitive now, so he has a lot of scruples when doing anything, so he took the initiative and said: "I think it's better for me to contact General Antonetta."
When Antonetta received Sokov's call, she thought her subordinates had caused trouble again, so she couldn't help but asked anxiously: "General Sokov, have my subordinates caused trouble for you again?"
"No, General Antonetta, you misunderstood. I didn't make this call to complain to you." Sokov said with a smile, "I want to ask you for help on something else."
"Can you ask me for help?" Antonetta asked in surprise: "What can I do for you?"
"General Antonetta," Sokov said, "I have just learned about the situation of the troops, and unexpectedly discovered that the 122nd Guards Regiment stationed outside the city has a serious shortage of weapons and equipment. Only two or three soldiers have one gun.
If the Germans attack, I can't let the soldiers bite the Germans with their teeth, right?"
"That's right." Antonetta agreed with Sokov's statement. After all, this is not the era of cold weapons. Without weapons, no matter how many people there are, it is useless. So he asked tentatively: "Soko
General Husband, what are you going to do?"
"I'm thinking, isn't your 52nd Infantry Regiment also outside the city?" Sokov deliberately said slowly: "How about we re-divide the defense area, half of your troops and mine, so that when the Germans attack,
The pressure we will bear will be much less. Even if we don't have enough weapons, we won't be unable to hold our position."
"General Sokov, that's not what we said in our agreement." Hearing what Sokov said, Antonetta suddenly became anxious: "You can't break your promise."
"General Antonetta, I want to abide by the agreement, but isn't the current situation special?" Sokov pretended to be embarrassed and said: "If our troops cannot stop the German attack, wait until they break through the defense line and rush forward.
If you enter the city, you will also suffer disaster."
Sokov's words made Antonetta fall into deep thought. After a fierce ideological struggle, he stamped his foot suddenly, then gritted his teeth and said to Sokov: "General Sokov, do you think this will work?
There is also an arsenal in the city of Otac, with enough weapons and ammunition to equip two regiments. If you don't mind, I can give these weapons and ammunition to your troops first, so that you can arm all the officers and soldiers.
"
Seeing Antonetta proactively agreeing to take out the weapons from the general's arsenal, Sokov was extremely excited, but he still asked calmly: "General Antonetta, this won't embarrass you, right?
"
"No embarrassment, no embarrassment at all." Antonetta had already made up his mind. As long as his troops were not allowed to go to the battlefield, all the weapons in the city would be given to you. He even used a flattering tone.
He said to Sokov: "General Sokov, it's me who doesn't understand the situation. I don't even know about something as important as the lack of weapons for friendly forces. Now that I know about this matter, I definitely can't remain indifferent. I will send someone to deal with it right away."
The weapons were delivered to the friendly forces outside the city."
"General Antonetta, on behalf of all the commanders and fighters of the Guards Division, I would like to express my gratitude to you!"
After putting down the phone, Sokov said to Ponedelin with a relaxed look: "Lieutenant Colonel Ponedelin, the weapons matter has been settled. You can call Colonel Papuchenko later and let him arrange it."
Manpower to receive weapons sent by friendly forces."
Sidorin gave a thumbs up to Sokov and said with emotion: "Comrade Commander, originally I thought that borrowing weapons from the Romanian army would require a lot of effort before the other party could agree. I didn't expect you to just say a few words.
That’s it.”
Ponejelin also said with admiration: "Yes, if it were me, even if I barely convinced Antonetta, I'm afraid he would set a use period for me, and these weapons must be returned to me in the end.
Arsenal. Unexpectedly, you just said a few words and the other party took the initiative to give you the weapon without even mentioning the issue of returning it."
Hearing the two people's compliments about him, Sokov couldn't help but feel a little complacent: "This is the art of conversation. As long as we cleverly grasp the other person's psychology, we can make him willingly give us what we want."
"Comrade Commander," Ponejelin asked curiously, "can you tell me what psychology you captured on the other side?"
"Lieutenant Colonel Ponedelin, to put it bluntly, it's actually very simple." Sokov said to Ponedelin: "General Antonetta chose to sign a cooperation agreement with us to avoid war. I
Just now I deliberately said that the troops outside the city lacked weapons and hoped to re-define the defense zone with them to jointly fight against the German attack.
The last thing General Antonetta wants is to let his troops participate in the battle. So there are two choices before him: one is to agree to my proposal and re-divide the defense zone outside the city, with our guards first
The 122nd Regiment and his 52nd Regiment jointly resisted the German attack.
The second is to provide necessary weapons and equipment for our troops performing defense tasks, so that his troops can follow the provisions of the agreement and do not need to participate in the battle against the German army, but can concentrate on maintaining law and order in the city."
"Yeah, that makes sense." Sidorin added: "General Antonetta just weighed it up and felt that as long as he took out weapons and ammunition, he could prevent his troops from participating in meaningless battles. So in the end, he
The second option was chosen.”
Ponedelin looked at Sokov and said thoughtfully: "Comrade Commander, I am thinking about a question."
"what is the problem?"
"I'm thinking, what if you were my chief of staff or my deputy during the Battle of Uman." After Ponedelin said this, he immediately realized something was wrong. Now Sokov is a general.
And he was still a lieutenant colonel who had committed crimes and made meritorious service. The difference in status between the two was too big. He quickly added: "I was just making an analogy."
"Lieutenant Colonel Ponedelin, I understand what you mean." Although Ponedelin only said half of what he said, Sokov already understood what he meant: "Do you think that I was your chief of staff at that time?
Or deputy commander, the outcome of the Battle of Uman might change?"
Seeing that Sokov guessed what he was thinking, Ponedelin nodded and replied affirmatively: "Yes, that's what I thought."
Unexpectedly, after hearing this, Sokov waved his hand at him and said helplessly: "Lieutenant Colonel Ponejelin, I am not a God, and I have no ability to change the outcome of that battle."
Ponjelin asked curiously: "Why?"
Seeing that Ponedelin was so curious, Sokov felt that it was necessary to analyze to him the reasons for the Soviet army's defeat in the early stages of the war, and to avoid making similar stupid mistakes in future battles.
"Lieutenant Colonel Ponejelin, since you want to understand the reason why I said that I could not change the outcome of the battle, then I will give you an analysis." Sokov said: "First: Our army's logistics support is poor and we are not able to fully implement it.
Good war preparation. According to statistics, at least half of the tanks lost were abandoned due to lack of maintenance parts and fuel. The urgently needed supplies on the front line often failed to be transported in time. The German army was well prepared and the logistics support system was relatively complete.
Second: Our military commanders lack experience. The commanders who took office after the Great Purge only knew how to blindly execute orders from their superiors, causing heavy losses in combat. The German commanders, on the other hand, have rich combat experience and considerable command freedom.
Be flexible and adaptable to changing situations.
Third: There are serious problems with our army's combat deployment. We failed to find out the German army's deployment, which resulted in our own defensive weaknesses being exposed just in front of the German army's main attack spearhead. We did not know (or did not dare) to retreat in a timely manner during the war, and used the method when mobilizing reinforcements.
The refueling tactics enabled the German army to always gain a local advantage."
Thinking of the Soviet army's rout in the early stages of the war, Sokov couldn't help but raise his voice: "Fourth and last point. Our army's commanders and fighters seriously lack combat experience and only know how to fight hard and cooperate with all arms."
If they don't get up, they often fight alone, allowing the Germans to defeat them one by one.
Under field conditions, they were often defeated by the German troops who were at a disadvantage in terms of strength and firepower. They were hesitant when attacking and ignored when retreating. This was closely related to the overall lack of training and the poor level of officers.
On the contrary, once the troops are in a solidly fortified area and have training and preparation for independent operations, our army's performance is better. This also proves from another aspect that at the beginning of the war, our country's intention for the war was to defend the war as much as possible.
With the enemy outside the country's gates, we must carry out defensive warfare in fortified areas under solid fortification conditions."
Ponedelin was a little absent-minded at first, but after listening for a while, he felt that what Sokov said was very reasonable, so he quickly took out a small notebook and recorded it.
After looking at him, Sokov slowed down and said: "Also, in wars, our troops are often defeated by German tanks first, and then surrounded and annihilated by a large number of German infantry who follow up. Therefore, the importance of anti-tank combat is
Success or failure has become the key to our army's fight against the German attack. Our army's rout in the early stages of the battlefield was directly caused by the incompetent anti-tank operations."
After Sokov finished speaking, Ponedelin stopped recording and tapped the notebook lightly with the pencil in his hand, as if he was thinking about what Sokov just said.
After a long time, he raised his head and said to Sokov: "Comrade Commander, you are indeed worthy of being the commander of the group army at such a young age and being awarded the title of general. If nothing else, at least
Among the senior commanders I know, no one can see the problems we have as clearly as you."
Hearing the other party's praise, Sokov felt a little complacent in his heart, but he always kept the most important thing in mind and quickly told Ponedelin: "Lieutenant Colonel Ponedelin, call Papuchenko quickly.
, to prepare him to receive the equipment.”
Before Ponejelin could finish speaking, Sidorin said first: "Comrade Commander, it's better for me to make the call. I think the division commander still has questions that he wants to ask you for advice."
While Sidorin was on the phone, Sokov looked at Ponedelin and asked: "Lieutenant Colonel Ponedelin, do you have any more questions?"
"How long do you think it will take for us to drive the Germans out of our country?"
Sokov naturally had a standard answer to Ponedelin's question. After the Soviet army carried out ten Stalin assaults, it drove all German troops out of its own country on August 29, 1944.
Knowing the answer is one thing, but how to answer the other party is another matter. "Lieutenant Colonel Ponejelin, I understand your mood. You want to drive the Germans out of our country as soon as possible. I don't think so."
"But it won't work," Sokov sighed and said: "Although the Germans are retreating steadily, their strength still exists. It will take a long time to completely drive them out of our land."
Ponejelin hesitated for a moment, and then asked cautiously: "I wonder if I will live to see the day of victory?"
"Lieutenant Colonel Ponedelin," Sokov asked puzzledly: "Why are you so pessimistic? You know, according to the current development of the war situation, within two years, we will definitely be able to completely defeat the Germans.
Achieve final victory."
"That's good, that's good." If someone else said this, Ponedelin might still have some doubts in his heart, but since it was Sokov who said it, he naturally chose to believe it unconditionally: "If the war really happens,
If it can end within two years, maybe I can still see the day of victory with my own eyes."
Sokov felt that Ponedelin would not say this for no reason, and thought it was someone from the Ministry of Internal Affairs who was looking for trouble for him, so he quickly asked with concern: "Lieutenant Colonel Ponedelin, is it someone from the Ministry of Internal Affairs who is looking for him?"
Your trouble?"
"No, no!" Unexpectedly, Ponejelin waved his hands and said, "No personnel from the Ministry of Internal Affairs have come to see me at all."
"Then why did you say such a thing?" Sokov asked puzzledly.
Ponejelin grinned silently, and then said: "Comrade Commander, to tell you the truth, I have been feeling chest tightness, difficulty breathing and palpitations recently, so I went to the military doctor for examination. The other party said that I was infected in the prisoner of war camp.
Severe rheumatism, now rheumatism has transformed into rheumatic heart disease."
After figuring out what was going on, Sokov immediately said to Ponedelin: "Lieutenant Colonel Ponedelin, since you are not feeling well, why didn't you tell me earlier? If I knew, I would arrange for a military doctor to treat you.
You treated it."
"I asked the military doctor, and he said that there is no specific medicine for this disease, and we can only rest for a long time." Ponjelin said with a wry smile: "The war is so fierce today. How can I, as the commander of a division, lie down and rest for a long time?"
Well. I estimate that I can only live for two or three years with this disease. If the war can really end within two years, I will still have a chance to see the day of victory."