Sokov took Andrei back to the brigade headquarters. After asking him to sit down, he said: "Captain Andrei, you can now report to me the entire process of the battle in the right bank of the Tenebra River."
When the troops were cleaning the battlefield, Andrei had communicated with Vanya, because he was very clear about the entire battle process. After he reported to Sokov in detail, he specifically mentioned what happened during the battle.
A misunderstanding.
Sokov, who was still smiling, suddenly became stiff after hearing what Andre said. He stood up and walked back and forth in the room with his hands behind his back, thinking to himself that in the following days,
Night fighting is indispensable. If the problem of identifying ourselves and the enemy cannot be solved, it will cause many unnecessary casualties.
As soon as the idea of identifying through the sound of gunfire came up, he immediately rejected it. Most of the commanders and fighters in the brigade were equipped with German equipment, which made it impossible to identify them. Tie a white towel on the arm, it sounded like
It was quite reliable, but Sokov knew in his heart that it would not play any role in a night battle. When he saw a group of people coming from the front, his instinctive reaction was to fire immediately. There was no time to see if there was a towel on the opponent's arm.
"Comrade Brigade Commander, what are you thinking about?" Seeing Sokov pacing back and forth in the room with his hands behind his back, Belkin asked curiously: "Are you thinking about how to write a report?
"
Sokov stopped and said to Belkin: "Comrade Political Commissar, I am thinking about how to identify ourselves and the enemy when encountering poor visibility during night operations!"
"Is this what bothers you?" Belkin asked briefly.
"Yes, that's exactly what happened."
After hearing this, Belkin smiled lightly and said to Andrei who was sitting beside him: "Comrade Captain, please tell our comrade the brigade commander now, after the misunderstanding occurred on the battlefield, how did we eliminate the misunderstanding?"
"Use the bugle, comrade political commissar." Andrei quickly replied: "Use the bugle sound to tell the other party that we are our own and stop firing."
"Use bugles for communication?" Since Sokov commanded this unit, buglers have never been used, so much so that he almost forgot about this branch of the army. At this moment, he heard that the commanders and fighters of the first battalion were eliminated through buglers.
There was a misunderstanding, and a look of surprise appeared on his face: "Captain Andre, are you saying that your subordinates realized they were fighting with one of their own men only after they heard the other party's bugle?"
"Yes, that's the case." Andre nodded vigorously and replied affirmatively. Then he faced Belgin and said happily, "If the first battalion and the second company had not communicated through the bugler, this misunderstanding would still have happened.
I don’t know how long it will last.”
After Andrei finished speaking, Sokov looked at Bergin and asked: "Comrade Political Commissar, that means that during night battles, we can use the sound of bugles to communicate and distinguish between ourselves and the enemy?"
"Comrade Brigadier, as long as each company is equipped with a trumpeter." Belkin said to Sokov with a smile: "We can solve the problem of communication and distinguishing between ourselves and the enemy during night operations."
Regarding Belkin's suggestion, Sokov thought for a while and finally shook his head in denial: "No, the organization of our brigade is too chaotic. One battalion is equivalent to an infantry regiment of the friendly army, and one company is equivalent to a battalion.
It's not appropriate to have one bugler for several hundred people. If the bugler dies in battle, how should we contact him next?"
Sokov's question left both Belkin and Andrei speechless. They both understood that it was indeed too little to equip a company of several hundred people with just one bugler. But if they wanted to have more,
, there is no other way. Even though the combat effectiveness of the bugler is not strong, it is a special unit and must undergo a long period of training to become a qualified bugler.
After a while, Belkin asked Sokov: "Comrade Brigade Commander, do you have any good ideas?"
"Whistle!" Sokov said slowly: "I once saw commanders using whistles to direct soldiers to attack. Buglers are difficult to train, but we can equip every platoon commander with a whistle.
, during night battles, the whistle is used to command the troops and contact friendly forces. Do you think it is feasible?"
"I think it works!" As soon as Sokov finished speaking, Andrei nodded and said: "In the past, during battles, because people's shouts were often covered by the sound of guns and artillery on the battlefield, even if they shouted
Even if their voices are hoarse, the soldiers may not be able to hear the commander's orders. But the whistle is different. Even if the gunfire sounds louder, the soldiers can still hear the sharp whistle and follow the pre-arranged signal.
Perform combat missions."
"What about your opinion, Comrade Political Commissar?" Seeing that Andrei agreed with his idea of using whistles for communication on the battlefield, Sokov looked at Belgin and asked: "You also agree to use whistles for communication on the battlefield.
Command and liaison work?”
"I agree." Belkin nodded and said, "I think it is very appropriate for commanders to use whistles for command and communication on the battlefield."
While several people were talking, Brisky, who was deployed in the west of the city, called and reported to Sokov: "Comrade Brigade Commander, a force has entered our defense area and said it would take over our defense. What should we do now?"
manage?"
Upon learning that there were troops preparing to take over the defense of the fourth battalion, Sokov understood that the reinforcements sent by the base camp had arrived, and ordered Briski: "Comrade Captain, immediately hand over the defense of your battalion to friendly forces, and then you can transfer the troops
To the south of the city. From now on, our brigade will only be responsible for the defense tasks in this direction."
Belkin was extremely excited when he learned that reinforcements had arrived. He even asked Sokov specifically: "Comrade Brigade Commander, do you think we need to go over and say hello to the commander of the friendly forces?"
"It's not necessary." Sokov said without hesitation: "The friendly forces have just entered Kursk, and they must be busy with a lot of things. We shouldn't disturb them at this time. We'd better wait until they settle down, and then we can
Go ahead."
After saying these words, Sokov remembered the first battalion commander Vanya who was sent to the health team, and quickly called the health team to ask how Vanya was doing. He learned that the other party mainly suffered from skin trauma and was bedridden.
After resting for a week and feeling fine, I finally let go of the huge stone in my heart.
By evening, the infantry division, tank brigade and artillery regiment dispatched by the base camp all entered the city of Kursk. The residents of the city were worried about the continuous siege of the German army during this period, seeing so many troops entering the city.
, as if taking a reassurance, the panic in the city immediately disappeared.
Just when Sokov was about to convene a meeting with the company commanders of each battalion, he received an unexpected phone call. The familiar voice of Rotmistrov came from the receiver: "Lieutenant Colonel Sokov,
Do you have time now? Comrade Chief of Staff wants to see you."
"The chief of staff wants to see me?" Hearing Rotmistrov say this, Sokov couldn't help but be stunned for a moment, secretly wondering whether Rokossovsky had something to tell him and felt it was inconvenient to say it on the phone.
, so he sent Ma Lining to assign him a task. Thinking of this, he quickly asked cautiously: "Comrade General, isn't Chief of Staff Ma Lining supposed to be directing operations at the headquarters at the moment? Why did he come here suddenly?"
Rotmistrov listened to what Sokov said and was silent for a moment before continuing: "Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, you are mistaken. The person who wants to see you is not Chief of Staff Malinin, but Chief of General Staff Vasile
Comrade Fsky."
"General Vasilevsky wants to see me?" When Sokov heard what Rotmistrov said, he was a little confused and asked: "Comrade General, do you know what's going on?"
"Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, haven't you learned the confidentiality regulations?" Rotmistrov said in a reproachful tone: "Ask only what you should ask, and don't ask about things you shouldn't ask."
Although Sokov didn't know what the confidentiality regulations were, he still said seriously into the microphone: "I've learned it, Comrade General, I understand that I won't inquire about things that I shouldn't inquire about.
So as not to embarrass you."
"Okay, don't say this." Rotmistrov said into the microphone: "If you have nothing to do now, come here immediately. Comrade Chief of General Staff is still waiting for you."
"Comrade General, I would like to ask a question." Sokov turned to glance at Belgin who was sitting next to him, and continued to ask: "Should I go to your place alone, or should I go with the political commissar?"
Rotmistrov thought for a while and then said: "You should come here alone. I think the chief of general staff will definitely assign you a secret mission. If there are too many people, it is easy for the news to leak."
Knowing that Vasilevsky might assign important tasks to him, Sokov did not dare to neglect. After explaining a few words to Belkin, he rushed to the headquarters of the tank army by car. Here he met a special
Vasilevsky came from Moscow by plane.
Sokov walked up to Vasilevsky, raised his hand in salute, and said loudly: "Comrade Chief of General Staff, Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, commander of the 73rd Infantry Brigade, was ordered to come. I am waiting for your order. Please
instruct!"
After Vasilevsky raised his hand to return the salute, he said: "Please rest a moment!" After saying that, he walked around Sokov a few times with his hands behind his back and nodded, "Lieutenant Colonel Sokov, because you grasped the situation in time,
We managed to seize the fighter plane and successfully captured Kursk. The High Command of the base camp speaks highly of you!"
When Sokov heard what Vasilevsky said, he couldn't help but feel ecstatic. He secretly thought that the base camp was planning to award us the title of Guards Brigade? Otherwise, why would Comrade Chief of General Staff specifically say these words?
Just when he was complacent, Vasilevsky walked to the wall, faced Sokov and said: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, please come to me." Sokov quickly took a few steps forward and came to
In front of Vasilevsky.
Vasilevsky turned to look at the map on the wall, pointed at a river and asked: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, do you know the name of this river?"
When Sokov saw it, he wondered if this was the Don River, so he casually replied: "It's the Don River!"
"That's right, it's the Don River!" Vasilevsky nodded in affirmation. Then he moved his finger a certain distance to the right, pointed at another river, and continued to ask: "Then what is the name of this river?
?”
Chief of the General Staff, what is going on? Sokov looked at Vasilevsky and thought to himself, there are place names marked on the map, and he specifically asked me what these are for? But since Vasilevsky has already raised the question,
As a subordinate, Sokov could only answer truthfully: "This is the Volga River."
"Yes, this is the Volga River." After Vasilevsky finished these words, he turned to the topic: "Now the German army has successfully crossed the Don River and advanced towards the Volga River Basin. According to
According to the judgment of the Supreme Command, the enemy's next attack target must be Stalingrad on the Volga River."
When he saw Vasilevsky slapping the location of Stalingrad with his palm, Sokov thought to himself: Thank God, you finally discovered that the enemy's next focus of attack is Stalingrad. What you have to do now is to mobilize
More troops to strengthen the defense there.
Vasilevsky saw that after he announced the German army's next attack target, Sokov's expression did not change at all, so he smiled slightly and then said: "Stalingrad is almost an empty city at the moment.
Except for a few regular troops, the militiamen of each factory are responsible for the important task of defending the city. The base camp decided to allocate elite troops to strengthen the defense there. The size of your brigade is about the same as an infantry division, so the superiors decided that your brigade will be in
Transferred to the Stalingrad area in early August. Any questions?"
"No problem." Although Sokov had already guessed that his troops might be transferred to Stalingrad to participate in the meat grinder-like defense battle, when he actually heard this order, he simply
Cove's heartbeat still accelerated. However, he tried hard to control his emotions and said in a calm tone: "I resolutely obey the orders of my superiors. But I would like to ask, besides our brigade, are there any other troops?"
Transferred to Stalingrad?"
Vasilevsky walked up to Sokov, raised his hand and patted him on the shoulder, comforting him and said: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, don't worry, the Germans may just rush to Stalingrad, maybe they will
The purpose is to divert our attention, wait until we are fooled, and then turn around and attack Moscow. In my opinion, your brigade's transfer to Stalingrad is equivalent to rest and recuperation. Stay there for a few months and wait for the new round.
During the counterattack, your brigade may be able to take on the main offensive role."
Vasilevsky's words made Sokov dumbfounded: It was a joke to send our brigade to a city where a commander can only survive for 72 hours and a soldier can only survive for 24 hours, and he told us to rest and recuperate.